New York City Pedestrian Accident Statistics [2025]

New York City’s busy streets have seen tens of thousands of pedestrian accidents over the past decade. In this blog post, we’ll explore the latest New York City pedestrian accident statistics from 2014 through 2024 – including injuries and fatalities citywide each year – and break them down by borough, time of day, age group, and contributing factors. We’ll also highlight trends (are accidents going up or down?) and discuss what the city is doing to improve safety (like Vision Zero). Finally, we’ll touch on the legal rights pedestrians have after an accident, such as injury claims and dealing with insurance. Our goal is to give you a clear, conversational rundown of the facts, backed by as many relevant numbers as possible, so you can understand the state of pedestrian safety in NYC today.

Ten Years of New York City Pedestrian Accident Statistics (2014–2024)

Over the last decade, New York City’s pedestrian accident numbers have ebbed and flowed – with some encouraging declines as well as concerning upticks. Below we break down the total number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities per year from 2014 through 2023 (2024 data is discussed further down).

Figure: NYC annual pedestrian fatalities, 2014–2023. After a high in 2016, pedestrian deaths fell to record lows by 2020 and 2023.

• 2014: NYC launched its Vision Zero initiative this year, and pedestrian fatalities dropped to their lowest on record at the time (around 132 deaths citywide). This was a sharp improvement from 2013, which saw roughly 180+ pedestrian fatalities. Pedestrian injuries in 2014 were high – roughly 10,000 injured pedestrians – but this was actually on par with prior years. In short, 2014 was the safest year to walk in NYC since at least 1910, thanks in part to early Vision Zero efforts.

• 2015: NYC built on this progress. About 139 pedestrians lost their lives in 2015, a slight increase from 2014’s record low but still fewer than pre-Vision Zero years. Tens of thousands of pedestrians were injured (approximately 10–11,000, citywide). Overall traffic deaths and especially pedestrian deaths remained well below their pre-2014 levels. City officials touted 2015 as another historically safe year for pedestrians.

• 2016: Unfortunately, 2016 saw an uptick. 148 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes – the highest of the decade. This rise in fatalities set off alarms because it reversed some of the previous gains. Pedestrian injuries also stayed high (around 10,700 reported). Factors like distracted driving and speeding were blamed for this setback. The city realized more needed to be done as 2016 became an outlier year of increased pedestrian danger.

• 2017: A major turnaround. In 2017, pedestrian fatalities dropped dramatically by over 30% compared to 2016. Only 101 pedestrian deaths occurred citywide in 2017 – making it the new record-low year for pedestrian fatalities. This was a huge victory for Vision Zero efforts (the Mayor even announced that 2017 was the safest year on record for NYC pedestrians). Injuries to pedestrians also trended down somewhat. NYC implemented many street safety measures by this point (like lower speed limits and redesigned crosswalks), which likely helped achieve this improvement.

• 2018: Pedestrian injuries and fatalities crept up again. Approximately 114 pedestrians lost their lives in 2018, a rise from 2017’s low. Unofficial reports noted an increase particularly in certain boroughs – for example, Queens had a disproportionate number of pedestrian deaths in 2018 (some reports cited over 70 in Queens alone that year, which was startling). Citywide, pedestrian injuries also increased in 2018 (total traffic injuries in NYC were on the rise). So, while 2018 was still safer than the mid-2000s, the trend had reversed upward slightly.

• 2019: This year continued the worrisome upward trend in pedestrian incidents. Around 116 pedestrian fatalities occurred in 2019, slightly more than the prior year. Total traffic crashes and injuries in NYC actually hit all-time highs in 2019, and pedestrian crashes were part of that. Brooklyn and Queens saw the highest numbers of pedestrian deaths among the boroughs (more on borough breakdowns in the next section). Advocates pointed out that even with Vision Zero, 2019 was one of the deadlier years of the decade for walkers. Injuries to pedestrians remained roughly in the five-figure range citywide (likely around 10,000+ injured).

• 2020: Everything changed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdowns and far fewer people out and about, pedestrian accidents plummeted. Pedestrian fatalities fell to record lows – about 94 deaths (some data sources say just under 100) – which is the lowest number ever recorded in NYC’s modern history. Likewise, pedestrian injuries dropped dramatically to roughly 6,400 citywide (nearly a 40% drop from the prior year). Fewer cars were on the road and many people stayed home in 2020, so there were simply fewer opportunities for crashes. However, an interesting twist: while total crashes and pedestrian crashes fell, those crashes that did happen were often more severe. With emptier streets, some drivers drove much faster, leading to a spike in traffic deaths among drivers and cyclists. But for pedestrians specifically, 2020 was a rare silver lining from the pandemic – far fewer pedestrians were hit by cars than normal.

• 2021: As the city reopened, pedestrian accidents sadly surged back up. There were about 108 pedestrian fatalities in 2021, a sharp increase from 2020’s low. Pedestrian injuries also rebounded to around 7,200. In fact, 2021 ended up surpassing pre-pandemic levels for traffic deaths overall – a troubling development. Observers noted that dangerous driving behavior (speeding, recklessness) increased during the pandemic and didn’t immediately subside, which contributed to 2021 being one of the more dangerous years for pedestrians in recent memory.

• 2022: The year 2022 brought a slight improvement. Pedestrian fatalities dipped a bit to around 116 deaths (down a few percentage points from 2021). City officials reported that 2022 had “among the fewest annual pedestrian deaths in NYC history” – still much higher than 2020 or 2017, but an improvement over 2021. Pedestrian injury numbers continued to climb upward as more people returned to normal activity (around 8,500 pedestrian injuries in 2022). NYC credited measures like 24/7 speed cameras (launched in 2022) and safer street designs for preventing an even worse outcome. By the end of 2022, the city’s data showed overall traffic fatalities finally dropping for the first time in three years, and pedestrian deaths declining slightly in line with that.

• 2023: Preliminary data indicates that 2023 was one of the safest recent years for pedestrians – potentially even safer than 2017 or 2020. By some accounts, fewer than 100 pedestrians were killed in 2023. (One source puts 2023’s pedestrian death toll at just 95 or so, which would be the lowest since Vision Zero began, aside from the anomaly of 2020. Another analysis cited around 86 pedestrian fatalities in 2023 – there is some variation depending on data source, but in any case 2023 saw a very low number of deaths.) This improvement is encouraging. Pedestrian injury figures for 2023 continued rising though – roughly 8,800 pedestrians injured – reflecting that while many people were struck by vehicles, a smaller fraction were killed than in prior years. Street safety advocates noted that 2023 bucked national trends, as pedestrian fatalities nationally have been climbing, whereas NYC saw a decrease. Mayor Adams even highlighted that 2023’s overall traffic death count was down to levels not seen in a century.

• 2024: Final 2024 numbers aren’t fully available yet, but early reports suggest a worrying uptick in pedestrian fatalities. By December 2024, NYPD data showed at least 112 pedestrian deaths for the year – already exceeding the total for 2023. In fact, the first half of 2024 was especially deadly (over 60 pedestrian fatalities in just the first six months, a 27% increase compared to early 2023). So despite 2023’s success, 2024 appears to be reversing the trend with pedestrian deaths on the rise again. Pedestrian injuries in 2024 have also increased (through fall 2024, NYC was on pace to exceed 2023’s injury totals). It seems the city still has work to do to sustain long-term declines in pedestrian accidents.

Borough Breakdown: Which Boroughs Have the Most Pedestrian Accidents?

Pedestrian accident stats can vary widely by borough. New York City’s five boroughs differ in traffic patterns, population, and street design – all of which affect pedestrian safety. Here’s a quick overview of borough-by-borough trends over the past decade:

• Brooklyn and Queens: These two boroughs consistently see the highest number of pedestrian accidents. They are the city’s most populous boroughs and have many wide arterial roads where drivers often travel at higher speeds. For example, in 2019 Brooklyn had the most pedestrian fatalities of any borough (34 deaths, according to one analysis, with Queens not far behind). Queens in particular has had some especially tragic years – in 2018, Queens saw a spike in pedestrian deaths (some reports say around 70+ that year in Queens alone). Both boroughs also log thousands of pedestrian injuries every year (Brooklyn typically leads the city in raw number of pedestrian injuries, simply because it has so many intersections and busy streets). The South and East Bronx (bordering Manhattan) and Southeast Queens also contain many high-crash corridors. The city’s data in recent years shows improvement, though: between 2019 and 2022, pedestrian fatalities fell by about 38% in Brooklyn and 25% in Queens on key Vision Zero priority corridors​. Still, Brooklyn and Queens remain hotspots for pedestrian collisions due to their size and layout.

• Manhattan: Manhattan is a dense, pedestrian-packed borough – which means lots of pedestrian injuries, but somewhat fewer fatalities compared to outer boroughs. Why? Manhattan’s congested streets often keep vehicle speeds lower. Crashes are common (people on foot are struck by cars frequently in Manhattan, especially at busy intersections), but those crashes are a bit less likely to be deadly than, say, a high-speed collision on Queens Boulevard. For instance, in 2019 Manhattan saw 41 total traffic fatalities (across all modes) – of which roughly 20 were pedestrian deaths. That’s lower than Brooklyn/Queens. However, Manhattan usually has nearly as many (or more) pedestrian injuries as the larger boroughs. Each year, thousands of pedestrians are hurt in Manhattan traffic (in 2022, Manhattan had about 2,300 pedestrian injuries, among the highest of any borough). Midtown Manhattan, with its heavy foot traffic, sees many minor car-versus-pedestrian incidents. In short: Manhattan is the place where you’re most likely to be bumped by a turning taxi or delivery truck while crossing the street – but fortunately, many of those incidents are not fatal. The city has also aggressively installed safety measures in Manhattan (leading pedestrian intervals at traffic lights, slow zones, etc.), which have helped keep the fatality rate comparatively lower. According to NYC DOT, Manhattan saw a 45% decline in pedestrian fatalities on its priority corridors since 2019​.

• The Bronx: The Bronx has fewer total pedestrian crashes than Brooklyn/Queens, but certain areas in the Bronx are dangerous for walkers. Notably, the Grand Concourse, Fordham Road, and parts of the South Bronx have long been high-injury areas for pedestrians. In 2019, the Bronx had 27 traffic fatalities (with a little over a dozen being pedestrians). Some of the city’s deadliest wide streets run through the Bronx (like portions of Broadway and East Tremont), and speeding is a factor especially at night. The Bronx did see a significant improvement in recent years on targeted corridors – a 40% drop in pedestrian fatalities on priority Bronx corridors since 2019​. But in 2022 and 2023, a concerning trend emerged: several children were struck and killed by vehicles in the Bronx, highlighting ongoing safety gaps (e.g., need for more speed humps or cameras near schools). Overall, the Bronx typically accounts for a moderate share of NYC’s pedestrian casualties each year (less than Brooklyn/Queens, but more than Staten Island).

• Staten Island: Staten Island, with its smaller population and more car-centric design, has the fewest pedestrian incidents of the five boroughs. In many years, Staten Island might only have a single-digit number of pedestrian fatalities (for example, 6 in 2019, 8 in 2017). Pedestrian injuries are also far lower – often a few hundred per year – simply because Staten Island has fewer pedestrians and far fewer intersections than other boroughs. However, the incidents that do occur on Staten Island are often on high-speed roads (like Hylan Boulevard or Forest Ave). Staten Island saw about a 38% decline in pedestrian fatalities on its priority corridors since 2019​, reflecting progress. But safety advocates in Staten Island point out that many roads lack sidewalks or safe crossings, so when accidents happen they can be severe. Notably, in 2022, Staten Island experienced an alarming incident where multiple teenagers were struck by a speeding hit-and-run driver in a parking lot – showing that even a “suburban” borough isn’t immune to pedestrian danger.

Citywide trends by borough: Brooklyn typically leads in sheer numbers of pedestrian injuries each year, followed by Manhattan and Queens close behind. Queens and Brooklyn tend to trade off year-to-year on which has the most pedestrian fatalities (depending on specific crashes – e.g. Queens had an unusually bad 2018, Brooklyn a bad 2019). The Bronx and Staten Island consistently have fewer incidents, though the Bronx has some high-risk zones the city continues to target. Importantly, every borough has seen a downward trend in fatalities since the start of Vision Zero. By 2022, NYC DOT reported significant percentage drops in pedestrian deaths in all five boroughs compared to the Vision Zero baseline​. The challenge is maintaining those gains going forward, especially in Brooklyn/Queens where pedestrian volumes and car volumes are both enormous.

Why Have Pedestrian Accidents Increased or Decreased? (Key Trends)

Looking at 2014–2024, we can highlight a few big-picture trends:

• Overall Downward Trend (Pre-Pandemic): Thanks in part to Vision Zero safety efforts, NYC saw a steady decline in pedestrian fatalities from 2013 through about 2017. The city went from nearly 180 pedestrian deaths in 2013 down to ~100 by 2017 – an impressive drop of almost 45%. Total injuries to pedestrians also saw a modest dip in that period. This indicates that interventions like lower speed limits, better enforcement, and road redesigns were having a positive effect, “bending the curve” on what had been historically high fatality numbers.

• Post-2017 Plateau and Rise: After 2017’s record low, fatalities started rising again in 2018–2019. This plateau/uptick suggested that initial Vision Zero gains might have hit a limit without further aggressive action. Some hypothesized that after early “easy wins” (like lowering the default speed limit to 25 mph), additional improvements were harder to achieve. Distracted driving due to smartphones was also becoming more prevalent, potentially undermining safety gains. By 2019, pedestrian deaths were creeping back up, showing that progress is fragile. NYC was still far better off than in 2010 or 2000, but the goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2024 was clearly not on track.

• Pandemic Disruption (2020–2021): The COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered traffic patterns. In 2020, we saw a huge temporary drop in pedestrian crashes (due to less traffic and fewer people outdoors), followed by a rebound in 2021 that unfortunately overshot previous levels. Nationwide, traffic fatalities spiked in 2020-2021 despite fewer miles driven – largely due to dangerous driving behaviors. In NYC, pedestrians benefited from quiet streets in 2020 (hence the big drop to 94 deaths), but in 2021 as normal life resumed, drivers were speeding more and pedestrian activity returned, leading to a worse-than-normal year. Essentially, 2020 was an outlier low, and 2021 overcorrected into a high, disrupting the prior trend line.

• Recent Improvement and Uncertainty (2022–2024): After 2021’s setback, 2022 and especially 2023 showed hopeful signs that NYC was getting back on track. By 2023, pedestrian fatalities were again at record-low territory (even with the city fully open and traffic back to pre-pandemic levels). This suggests that new safety measures – like 24/7 speed cameras (activated in August 2022) and hundreds of redesigned intersections – have started to counteract the pandemic-era surge in dangerous driving. However, the partial data from 2024 is concerning: a spike in deaths indicates the trend could be reversing yet again. Factors like an increase in vehicle ownership (more New Yorkers bought cars during the pandemic) and persistent reckless driving by a minority of motorists may be contributing. It’s a reminder that progress isn’t linear; it requires constant effort, and one bad year can erase several years of gains.

In summary, NYC’s pedestrian safety over the past decade has overall improved compared to pre-2014 – but it’s been a rollercoaster at times. The city experienced a notable drop in incidents through 2017, some backsliding around 2018–19, an extreme swing during 2020–21, and a return to improvement by 2023. New York City has fared better than the nation as a whole – nationwide, pedestrian fatalities have climbed to 40-year highs in recent years, whereas NYC in 2023 was near its lowest ever. Still, as 2024 is showing, there’s no guarantee the downward trend will continue without sustained focus.

When and Where Do Most Pedestrian Accidents Occur?

Understanding when pedestrian accidents happen (time of day, days of week, season) and where they happen (types of streets, intersections vs. midblock, etc.) is key to addressing the problem. Here are some patterns:

• Time of Day: Pedestrian crashes can happen at any time, but there are peaks. Evening hours are particularly dangerous. Traffic data shows that a large share of severe pedestrian collisions occur during the late afternoon and evening (roughly 3 PM to 9 PM). The early evening rush hour, when streets are full of both cars and people on foot (often in a hurry), is prime time for accidents. After sunset, the risk of a pedestrian being killed rises significantly. In fact, about three-quarters of fatal pedestrian crashes happen after dark. Lower visibility at night makes it harder for drivers to see pedestrians, and drivers are often going faster on less congested nighttime streets. Nationally, the 6 PM–9 PM window sees the highest number of pedestrian fatalities​, and NYC reflects that trend too. Late nights (midnight to 6 AM) see far fewer pedestrian crossings (so not as many total crashes), but those that do occur are often severe – e.g. a lone pedestrian struck by a speeding car on a wide road in the middle of the night is more likely to be killed than a jaywalker bumped at noon in Midtown. This is why NYC has had initiatives like the “Dusk and Darkness” campaign each fall, recognizing that shorter daylight in winter leads to more evening crashes. Bottom line: be especially cautious as a pedestrian during evening and night hours, when drivers’ visibility is low and their speeds are higher.

• Day of Week: There’s some evidence that weekends see slightly more serious pedestrian crashes, often late at night (think Friday or Saturday 1 AM, bars closing, etc.). Weekday rush hours see more total pedestrian incidents (because that’s when millions are out walking), but those tend to be lower-speed fender-bender types. On weekends, there are fewer people walking overall, but drivers may be more likely to be impaired or speeding. That said, the differences by day of week aren’t huge – NYC pedestrian collisions are a constant concern every day.

• Location & Street Type: The vast majority of NYC pedestrian accidents happen at intersections – typically when a turning vehicle hits someone in a crosswalk. New York is a city of intersections; pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks, but often drivers fail to yield when turning. According to city data, a large share of pedestrian injuries occur when drivers fail to yield during a turn at an intersection. That’s why the city has installed treatments like Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) at many stoplights, which give walkers a head start crossing before cars get a green light. Mid-block crashes (where a pedestrian crosses in the middle of the street) are less common in NYC, but when they happen they tend to be more severe (since the car is usually moving faster and not expecting a crossing pedestrian). As for street types, wide, high-speed avenues and boulevards are the most problematic. For example, multi-lane arterial roads like Queens Boulevard, Atlantic Avenue, the Grand Concourse, and Hylan Boulevard have historically been nicknamed “Boulevards of Death” due to their propensity for pedestrian fatalities. Residential side streets, in contrast, see far fewer incidents (and now many have 20 MPH speed limits or traffic calming).

• Borough Hotspots: We touched on borough differences above. To put it simply, busy commercial areas and wide transit corridors are where pedestrian crashes cluster. In Manhattan, that means Midtown (think 34th Street, 42nd Street, 8th Avenue, etc.) and parts of Downtown. In Queens, locations like Northern Boulevard, Queens Blvd, and Jamaica Avenue have high crash rates. In Brooklyn, Kings Highway, Atlantic Ave, and Eastern Parkway are examples. The city’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan identified priority corridors – the 10% of streets that accounted for nearly half of all pedestrian deaths and serious injuries. Many of those priority corridors are in Queens and Brooklyn (which aligns with those boroughs’ large share of incidents). The good news: on these priority corridors, focused safety engineering has yielded large drops in crashes in recent years​.

• Age Groups: Pedestrian accidents affect all ages, but certain age groups are more vulnerable. Older adults (seniors) suffer disproportionately from fatal pedestrian crashes. People age 65+ make up a smaller portion of the population but a much larger share of pedestrian fatalities. An older pedestrian who is struck is more likely to die from their injuries than a younger person. NYC Health Department data from earlier in the decade showed seniors had the highest pedestrian fatality rate of any age group​. They may walk slower (exposed to traffic longer) and be more fragile physically. On the other end of the spectrum, children thankfully comprise a small share of pedestrian fatalities, but when it happens it’s heartbreaking. NYC has seen some tragic cases of children hit by turning drivers near schools or by backing vehicles in driveways. Teens and young adults are frequently injured as pedestrians (simply because they are out and about walking a lot), but middle-aged adults (35–50) actually make up a big chunk of pedestrian crash victims too. One reason: this group does a lot of commuting on foot in NYC and is commonly in busy traffic environments. In summary: seniors are most at risk of dying in a pedestrian crash, while young adults and middle-aged adults form the bulk of those injured in pedestrian accidents. The city has programs specifically aimed at senior pedestrian safety (e.g. longer crosswalk times, Safe Streets for Seniors initiatives) and at protecting kids (like school zone improvements) for these reasons.

Top Contributing Factors in NYC Pedestrian Crashes

Pedestrian accidents, almost by definition, involve a vehicle driver and a person on foot – and they are rarely “true accidents.” In most cases, some form of driver error or traffic violation is behind the collision. Here are the leading contributing factors in NYC pedestrian accidents:

• Failure to Yield to Pedestrians: One of the most common causes of pedestrian crashes is when a driver fails to yield the right of way. In NYC, pedestrians in a crosswalk (with the walk signal or at an unsignalized intersection) have the legal right of way. If a turning driver doesn’t wait for people to finish crossing, the result can be a collision. “Failure to yield” violations are routinely cited in NYPD crash reports for pedestrian incidents. This factor is especially prevalent at busy intersections – e.g. a driver turning left across an intersection may not see a pedestrian stepping off the curb, or may try to squeeze through quickly. NYC made failure-to-yield a focus of enforcement and even created a Right of Way Law in 2014 making it a misdemeanor for drivers to hit pedestrians or cyclists who had right of way. Still, it remains a top cause of injuries.

• Speeding: Speed kills – this is true in pedestrian crashes particularly. Higher vehicle speed both increases the likelihood of a crash (because the driver has less time to react) and the severity of the outcome. If a pedestrian is struck by a car at 30+ MPH, the risk of fatality is many times higher than if struck at 20 MPH. In NYC, speeding is a chronic problem on certain stretches (often late at night or in less congested areas). Data analyses have shown that even though most pedestrian collisions happen in congested areas at lower speeds, the majority of pedestrian fatalities happen in situations where a vehicle was going above the speed limit. Speeding was identified as a key factor in deadly crashes on wide streets and highways in the city. This is why NYC pushed to reduce the citywide speed limit to 25 MPH and expand speed camera enforcement – to curb speeding. Even a small reduction in average traffic speed can greatly reduce injuries.

• Driver Inattention or Distraction: With the advent of smartphones and in-car technology, distracted driving has become one of the biggest modern hazards. A driver glancing at a text message or fiddling with GPS may not see a pedestrian crossing right in front of them. NYPD reports frequently list “driver inattention/distraction” as a cause in crashes. This category can include phone use, but also things like a driver simply not paying enough attention when approaching a crosswalk or being momentarily distracted by something inside or outside the car. In a dense environment like NYC, a momentary distraction can easily lead to hitting a pedestrian who appears “out of nowhere.” Public campaigns remind drivers to focus 100% on the road, especially at intersections where people on foot are present.

• Turning Maneuvers: Many pedestrian crashes involve vehicles making turns – left turns, in particular, are known to be problematic. Left-turning drivers have to watch for oncoming traffic and may have obstructed views, and they often try to turn quickly through gaps – making it easy to miss a crossing pedestrian. The geometry of some intersections in NYC historically made left turns faster (wider turning radius), though the city has added turn calming measures (like rubber bumpers that force slower turns). Right turns on red are generally illegal in NYC, which actually spares us some crashes that plague other cities. But turns on green or at stop signs still pose a danger if drivers don’t check for pedestrians.

• Alcohol or Impairment: Drunk driving is dangerous for everyone, including pedestrians. A driver under the influence has slower reaction time and poor judgment – they might not stop at a light or might blow through a crosswalk. While NYC has a lower rate of DUI crashes than many other places (thanks to extensive public transit usage, meaning fewer drunk people drive), alcohol still plays a role in a subset of pedestrian fatalities each year. Some crashes at night, especially in outer boroughs, have involved intoxicated drivers mounting sidewalks or failing to see someone. There have also been cases of pedestrians impaired (intoxicated pedestrians crossing unsafely), but statistically driver impairment is a bigger issue for severe crashes.

• Large Vehicles and Trucks: The type of vehicle matters. Trucks, buses, and SUVs are disproportionately involved in fatal pedestrian crashes. Large vehicles have bigger blind spots and cause more severe injuries due to their weight. In NYC, MTA buses have been involved in some pedestrian deaths (often when turning through a crosswalk). Similarly, commercial trucks making deliveries may not see a pedestrian right in front of them when they start moving. The city has worked on adding sideguards to trucks and improving mirrors on buses to mitigate this. But vehicle design (high front-ends of SUVs, for example) is a contributing factor beyond individual driver actions.

• Pedestrian Error: We should note that sometimes pedestrian behavior contributes to accidents too. Cases of jaywalking (crossing mid-block or against the light) can put pedestrians at risk, especially if a driver isn’t expecting anyone. Distracted walking (pedestrians looking at their phones) is also cited anecdotally, though it’s hard to quantify how much that directly causes crashes. Generally, even when a pedestrian is crossing outside of a crosswalk, the onus is still on the driver to avoid hitting them if possible. But from a safety standpoint, pedestrians have virtually no protection, so any mistake (by driver or pedestrian) can be deadly for the person on foot. NYC advises pedestrians to be alert, cross at intersections when possible, and assume drivers might not see them.

In summary, most pedestrian crashes in NYC boil down to drivers not seeing the pedestrian in time to avoid a collision – whether because they weren’t paying attention, were going too fast, didn’t yield, or some combination of these. The city’s Vision Zero strategy explicitly targets these factors: e.g., more enforcement of speeding and failure-to-yield, street designs that slow turning cars, campaigns against texting and driving, etc.

Initiatives to Reduce Pedestrian Injuries (Vision Zero and More)

To combat pedestrian accidents, New York City launched Vision Zero in 2014 – a multi-pronged initiative with the ambitious goal of eliminating traffic deaths. Over the past 10 years, Vision Zero (and other city/state efforts) have brought a number of safety improvements. Here are some key initiatives and changes:

• Citywide Lower Speed Limit: One of the first Vision Zero policies was reducing NYC’s default speed limit from 30 MPH to 25 MPH on local streets. This took effect in late 2014. Slower speed limits give drivers more time to react and significantly improve a pedestrian’s chances of surviving a crash. “Twenty-five to save lives” became a slogan. Research shows a pedestrian hit at 25 MPH has a far higher survival rate than at 30 MPH. This change alone was credited with preventing dozens of deaths.

• Speed Cameras and Red-Light Cameras: NYC has dramatically expanded its automated speed enforcement. Speed cameras, which photograph and ticket speeding vehicles, were initially limited to school zones and specific times. In 2022, after a push in Albany, NYC gained the authority to operate speed cameras 24/7 citywide. Now over 2,000 speed cameras monitor streets at all hours, mailing tickets to drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 10 mph. These cameras have proven effective at reducing speeding in the zones where they operate (speeding violations dropped markedly over time at camera locations). Additionally, the city uses red-light cameras at many intersections to deter drivers from running red lights (a behavior that can easily injure pedestrians in the crosswalk). The expansion of automated enforcement is a cornerstone of Vision Zero, aimed at changing driver behavior even when police officers aren’t around.

• Street Redesigns (“Engineering”): NYC DOT has redesigned hundreds of streets and intersections to be safer for pedestrians. This includes: installing pedestrian refuge islands (concrete islands in wide crossings so you can pause safely halfway), adding protected bike lanes (which also calm traffic and create a buffer for pedestrians), narrowing overly wide lanes, and putting in neckdowns/bulb-outs (sidewalk extensions that shorten crossing distance). A famous example is Queens Boulevard – once notoriously deadly for pedestrians – which got a comprehensive redesign with bike lanes, reduced lanes for cars, lower speed limits, and more crosswalks. Since those changes, Queens Blvd has seen pedestrian fatalities drop significantly. Another example: the city has added over 1,400 Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) at traffic signals. An LPI gives pedestrians a 3-7 second head start to begin crossing before cars get a green light, making turning drivers more likely to see them. Studies show LPIs can reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions by over 50% at treated intersections​. The city is also implementing “Shared Streets” and slow zones in some areas (like the Financial District) where pedestrians dominate, forcing cars to drive at walking speed. All these engineering efforts address the physical environment that contributes to crashes.

• Law Enforcement Initiatives: The NYPD participates in Vision Zero by focusing enforcement on the most dangerous violations. They periodically run ticketing blitzes for speeding, failure-to-yield, distracted driving, and drunk driving – especially after pedestrian fatalities or during high-risk times (such as “Dusk and Darkness” fall evenings, or warm-weather weekends when speeding is common). After some horrific crashes in early 2022, the city announced increased NYPD traffic enforcement against reckless drivers. There’s also a new Automated Enforcement law (dubbed the “Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program”) targeting repeat offenders – drivers who rack up numerous speed camera or red-light tickets may be required to take a safety course or even have their vehicle impounded. The idea is to identify and rein in the worst dangerous drivers before they hurt someone. Enforcement is always a balancing act – there have been critiques that NYPD needs to do more consistent traffic enforcement, and also concerns to ensure enforcement is fair and not overly punitive except for truly dangerous behavior.

• Public Awareness & Education: Vision Zero isn’t just about tickets and road design – it’s also about changing the culture. The city has run public awareness campaigns urging drivers to slow down and watch for pedestrians. Slogans like “Your Choices Matter” and graphic ads showing the aftermath of speeding have been used. There have been targeted outreach efforts: for example, educating truck drivers on blind spots, reminding parents and kids about crossing safely near schools, and seasonal warnings (like reminding drivers to be extra careful when it gets dark early in winter). The city even partnered with car service apps (like Uber) to send safety messages to drivers. The goal is to make driving carefully “cool” and make everyone realize that traffic deaths are preventable, not just random inevitabilities.

• Vision Zero Borough Action Plans: In 2015 and updated in 2019 and 2023, NYC DOT released Pedestrian Safety Action Plans for each borough. These reports analyzed crash data to identify the top corridors and intersections for pedestrian KSI (Killed or Seriously Injured). By focusing investments on these high-crash locations, the city aimed to get the biggest safety gains. The updated 2023 plans showed progress: those priority locations saw substantial reductions in fatalities​. The plans also listed new priority locations to tackle next (expanding to corridors that emerged with high crashes in recent years). This data-driven, location-specific approach ensures efforts are concentrated where they’re most needed.

• State Legislation (“Sammy’s Law” etc.): New York State has a role too. Recently, state lawmakers passed “Sammy’s Law,” named after a child killed by a speeding driver, which allows NYC to further lower speed limits below 25 MPH in some areas. This could pave the way for 20 MPH zones or other localized reductions without needing state approval. The state also regulates things like DMV penalties – for example, after lobbying by families of crash victims, NY State now imposes driver’s license points for getting multiple camera violations (to discourage repeat speeders). Additionally, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and other state agencies have funded safety programs, like grants for NYPD enforcement blitzes or public outreach. There’s a shared recognition that pedestrian safety is a public health issue that New York must continue to address at every government level.

• Infrastructure for Pedestrians: Beyond just reducing car dangers, NYC is also improving conditions for walking. The city has added pedestrian plazas (like those in Times Square and Flatiron), giving more safe space to pedestrians off the roadway. More mid-block crosswalks and signals have been installed in long stretches where people would jaywalk otherwise. The city is even piloting Raised Crosswalks (crosswalks built like speed bumps) at some locations to force cars to slow down at pedestrian crossings. These measures both encourage walking and reinforce pedestrian priority.

It’s worth noting that Vision Zero is an ongoing effort – the city has not reached zero deaths, and 2024’s setbacks remind us it’s a challenging goal. However, many lives have been saved compared to a decade ago. City officials often cite that traffic fatalities in NYC are down ~15% since Vision Zero’s start, whereas nationally they’ve risen. Pedestrian deaths specifically were nearly 30% lower in recent years compared to 2013​. The investments in safer streets likely contributed to that.

Looking ahead, NYC is exploring things like intelligent transportation systems, better street lighting in high-crash areas, and more community-driven planning to reach seniors and youth about street safety. The hope is that through engineering, enforcement, and education – the “three E’s” of Vision Zero – New York City can continue driving pedestrian injuries and fatalities down toward zero.

Legal Implications of Pedestrian Accidents in NYC

For those unfortunate times when a pedestrian accident does occur, it’s important to understand the legal rights of the pedestrian (or their family). New York has specific laws and systems in place for handling the aftermath of traffic crashes:

• Right to File a Personal Injury Claim: If you are a pedestrian hit by a vehicle, you have the right to pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver. In New York, a driver who strikes a pedestrian is often legally considered negligent if the pedestrian was in a crosswalk or otherwise following traffic rules. Even if the pedestrian was jaywalking or partially at fault, the driver can still be held at least partially liable under New York’s comparative negligence rules. A personal injury claim can seek compensation for damages such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation costs. In practice, this usually means filing a claim with the driver’s auto insurance or, if necessary, suing the driver in court for negligence.

• No-Fault Insurance Benefits: New York is a no-fault insurance state for auto accidents. This no-fault system actually covers pedestrians too. If you’re hit by a car in NYC, you are entitled to file a claim under the driver’s no-fault (Personal Injury Protection) insurance. No-fault insurance will pay for your reasonable and necessary medical expenses and a portion of lost earnings (up to $50,000 in basic coverage, potentially more if the driver had additional coverage), regardless of who was at fault. This is a crucial benefit – it means an injured pedestrian can get their hospital bills and doctor bills paid quickly by the insurance, without having to wait for a lawsuit to resolve. However, no-fault does not cover pain-and-suffering or other non-economic damages; to get those, you must pursue a liability claim against the driver. Also, no-fault in New York has a “serious injury threshold” for lawsuits – basically, you can only sue for pain and suffering if you suffered serious injuries as defined by law (common serious injuries include broken bones, significant disfigurement, disability, etc.). Many pedestrian injuries unfortunately do meet this threshold (e.g. a fractured leg or worse), allowing a full lawsuit for damages beyond no-fault.

• Hit-and-Run or Uninsured Drivers: If the driver fled the scene (hit-and-run) or has no insurance, pedestrians still have options. Through New York’s MVAIC (Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation), an injured pedestrian can make a claim for no-fault and even bodily injury coverage when no other insurance is available (for hit-and-run scenarios, etc.). Additionally, if you own a car or reside with a family member who owns a car, the uninsured motorist coverage on that auto policy can step in for a hit-and-run. The key point: pedestrians are not left high-and-dry if the driver is unidentified – there are legal avenues to obtain compensation.

• Pedestrian’s Right of Way: Legally, in NYC pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks when the walk signal is on (or if there’s no signal at an intersection, when crossing on a green light or where traffic is stop-controlled). If a driver violates that and hits someone, the driver is likely considered negligent per se (because they violated traffic law). As mentioned, there’s even a criminal statute: NYC’s Right of Way Law can impose misdemeanor charges on drivers who fail to yield and injure a pedestrian in a crosswalk. From a civil claim perspective, if a police report or witnesses establish that the pedestrian was crossing lawfully and the driver did not yield or ran a light, liability is usually clear-cut against the driver. Conversely, if a pedestrian was crossing against the light or outside of a crosswalk, it doesn’t automatically bar recovery, but the insurance might argue the pedestrian was partly at fault, potentially reducing the compensation (under comparative fault, if a pedestrian is found say 30% at fault, their award might be reduced by 30%). Each case is fact-specific, so an attorney’s job is to gather video, witness statements, and traffic records to prove the driver’s fault.

• Dealing with Insurance Companies: In pedestrian injury cases, the driver’s car insurance is the main source of compensation. It’s important for the injured pedestrian (or their family) to notify the insurance carriers promptly – both for no-fault (within 30 days of the accident, one must file a no-fault application) and for any liability claim (often the police report and your notice will alert the driver’s insurer). Insurance companies may try to contact the injured person for a statement – one should be cautious in providing statements without consulting a lawyer, as insurers sometimes look for admissions to minimize liability. A personal injury lawyer can handle communications and negotiations with the insurer to ensure the pedestrian’s rights are protected. Remember, insurance adjusters, even if sympathetic, ultimately work for the insurance company, not for you – their goal may be to settle quickly for as little as possible. An attorney will advocate to get you a fair amount that covers all your long-term needs.

• Wrongful Death: If a pedestrian is tragically killed, their immediate family (spouse, children, or estate representative) can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible driver. Wrongful death claims in New York seek damages for the beneficiaries such as funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of parental guidance (for children of the deceased), among other things. While no amount of money can compensate for the loss of a loved one, these claims aim for some measure of justice and financial stability for the family. In recent years, families of victims have also become vocal in pushing for safer streets through organizations like Families for Safe Streets – turning their legal struggles into advocacy for change.

• Municipal Liability: Sometimes, pedestrians wonder if the city can be held liable for unsafe street conditions – for example, a missing crosswalk sign or a malfunctioning traffic light. It is possible but challenging to sue the city (NYC) for a traffic-related injury. The city generally has governmental immunity for discretionary traffic planning decisions. However, if there was a known dangerous condition (say, a traffic signal outage that the city failed to fix in a reasonable time, leading to a crash), there could be a case. These are very fact-specific and require a showing that the city was negligent in its duty (and even then, the city sets a high bar for liability – often one must show the city knew of a defect and ignored it). In most pedestrian accident cases, the primary liable party is the motorist, not the city. Do note that if one does intend to pursue the city, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days of the incident, as required by law for any claim against a municipal entity.

• Compensation and Outcomes: Successful pedestrian injury cases in NYC often result in settlements or verdicts that cover medical expenses (past and future), rehabilitation costs, lost income (if the person cannot work for a period), and compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress. The severity of injuries drives the value – e.g., a broken leg with full recovery might settle for tens of thousands of dollars, whereas a permanent disabling injury (spinal damage, brain injury, etc.) or fatality case can reach hundreds of thousands or millions in compensation, depending on circumstances. New York does not cap damages in personal injury cases, so a jury can award what they see fit for the harm done.

• Pedestrian’s Actions Post-Crash: If you are hit by a car, there are a few steps to protect your rights: call 911 and get a police report, seek immediate medical attention (even if injuries feel minor – documentation is important and some injuries worsen later), get contact info for the driver and witnesses, and preserve any evidence (photos of the scene, the vehicle, etc.). The police report will usually note fault factors and whether any tickets were issued (for instance, if the driver was ticketed for failure to yield or speeding, that strongly supports your case). Also, contacting a personal injury attorney early can help ensure deadlines are met and an investigation is done while evidence is fresh.

Overall, New York law aims to provide remedies to pedestrians who fall victim to negligent drivers. Pedestrians are considered “vulnerable road users,” and the legal system recognizes that drivers have a high duty of care to avoid hitting people on foot. Thus, if you or a loved one is involved in a pedestrian accident, know that you have rights to medical coverage and potentially substantial compensation – and holding drivers accountable not only helps you recover losses, but also reinforces the message that careless driving will have consequences.

As we’ve seen, pedestrian safety in New York City has improved in some ways over the last ten years, but challenges remain. The statistics show fewer New Yorkers are being killed while walking than a decade ago, yet thousands are still injured annually. Initiatives like Vision Zero have made a positive impact by redesigning streets and toughening enforcement, aligning NYC with a global movement to end traffic deaths. Still, 2024’s numbers remind us that progress can stall or reverse, and every life lost is one too many.

For pedestrians, the best advice is to stay alert, cross carefully, and assume drivers might not see you – defensive walking, so to speak. For drivers, the mandate is simple: slow down, put the phone away, and yield to people crossing. We all share the streets, and a moment of negligence behind the wheel can have life-altering consequences for a pedestrian.

The Orlow Firm has seen firsthand the aftermath of pedestrian accidents – the trauma, the recovery, and the fights with insurance. Beyond the statistics and policies, it always comes down to individual lives impacted. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, remember that there are laws to protect you and legal professionals ready to help you navigate the road to recovery. Stay safe, New York, and let’s all work toward a city where walking is safe for everyone.

Sources:

• New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) – Vision Zero Crash Data and Pedestrian Safety Action Plans (2015, 2019, 2023). Visit Website.

• New York City Police Department (NYPD) – Collision Data (Annual collision statistics and TrafficStat reports). Visit Website.

• NYC Vision Zero – Mayor’s Office press releases (2014–2023) announcing traffic safety statistics and initiatives

• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – Reports on pedestrian injury trends and risk factors in NYC. View PDF.

• New York State Governors Traffic Safety Committee – Information on statewide initiatives (e.g. speed cameras, Sammy’s Law). Visit Website.

• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – National pedestrian fatality statistics for context. Visit Website.

• (Additional data compiled from NYC Open Data and legal analyses of NY traffic law)

Orlow Law Firm