Johnstown
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

On This Page

1. Claiming Compensation If You Were Injured As a Pedestrian
2. Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Johnstown
3. How Our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Johnstown, PA Can Help
4. Are There Time Limits for Filing Your Pedestrian Accident Injury Claim?
5. Call Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Johnstown, PA, for a Free Case Review

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

October 10, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

If you were hit by a vehicle while walking in Johnstown, you’re not alone—and you may have options. Pedestrian accidents here often happen near busy intersections, school zones, or along narrow roads with limited sidewalks. The consequences can be devastating, from serious injuries to financial strain. At Berger and Green, our Johnstown, PA, pedestrian accident lawyers understand what you’re going through. 

With over 40 years of experience and a record of helping tens of thousands of clients across Pennsylvania, our team is ready to listen to your story and fight for the compensation you need. As Johnstown personal injury lawyers, we’re committed to providing personalized support every step of the way—whether that means visiting you at home or helping you understand your legal options. Call today for a free consultation.

Claiming Compensation If You Were Injured As a Pedestrian

Injured pedestrians often need significant medical treatment after an accident. The loss of income due to being unable to work while they recover, along with worries about paying medical bills and meeting other financial obligations, can be overwhelming. 

However, you do have options for economic recovery. If the other party was negligent, you may be entitled to recover damages for your injuries and other losses related to the accident, such as:

• Emergency medical care
• Hospital stays, treatment, and medication costs
• Rehabilitation, counseling, and therapy costs
• Lost income, including future earnings if your injuries affect your ability to work
• Ongoing and future medical expenses
• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression
• In-home care and assistance
• Any home adaptations needed as part of your ongoing care needs

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Johnstown

Many pedestrian accidents in Johnstown occur in areas with heavy foot traffic, limited sidewalks, or poorly marked crossings. Some of the most common causes include:

• Distracted Driving – Drivers using phones, GPS devices, or other in-car tech may fail to see pedestrians in crosswalks or parking lots.
• Speeding – High speeds reduce a driver’s ability to stop in time, especially on Johnstown’s hilly and narrow roads.
• Failure to Yield – At unmarked intersections or crosswalks, drivers may fail to give pedestrians the right of way.
• Driving Under the Influence – Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, reaction time, and awareness, increasing the likelihood of a crash.
• Fatigued Driving – Drowsy drivers may be just as impaired as drunk drivers and fail to notice people on or near the roadway.
• Left-Turn Accidents – Drivers turning left at intersections may focus on oncoming traffic and miss pedestrians crossing the street.
• Backing-Up Accidents – In parking lots or driveways, drivers may reverse without checking behind them for pedestrians.

Each of these behaviors represents a failure to act with reasonable care. When this happens, and it results in injury, the driver may be held liable for the harm caused.

How Our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Johnstown, PA Can Help

We help our clients to build and pursue a strong case by:

Investigating What Happened

Investigating the cause of the accident is essential to piece together what happened. During the investigation, we gather vital evidence to support your case, such as medical records, police reports, witness statements, CCTV footage, and other documents. From this information, we can identify who is responsible and, therefore, financially liable for your injuries and other losses related to the accident.

Proving Negligence in a Pedestrian Accident Case

To recover compensation in a pedestrian accident case, we must show that the driver acted negligently. Legally, this means proving four key elements:

1. Duty of Care – The driver had a legal responsibility to operate their vehicle safely and watch for pedestrians.
2. Breach of Duty – The driver failed to uphold that duty by acting carelessly or unlawfully, such as speeding or failing to yield.
3. Causation – That breach of duty directly caused the accident and your resulting injuries.
4. Damages – You suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm because of the accident.

Our Johnstown, PA, pedestrian accident lawyers handle this process by investigating every aspect of the crash. We collect critical evidence, such as accident reports, traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements, and medical records. In more complex cases, we may consult accident reconstruction experts or request cellphone data and driving logs to prove distraction, fatigue, or other negligent behavior.

By building a clear, fact-based case, we help demonstrate the other party’s fault and protect your right to compensation.

Assessing Your Losses

Evaluating your case for the full extent of your injuries and losses, including any future costs caused by the accident, can be challenging. However, with over 40 years of experience representing injured people, we are deeply familiar with this process. Our attorneys explore every aspect of how the accident has impacted your home, family, and work life to ensure the full extent of your losses is properly evaluated.

Negotiating With Insurance Companies

Reaching a fair settlement often requires ongoing negotiation between both parties. We aim to serve your best interests and push for the compensation you deserve. Similarly, the at-fault party’s insurance company will also have its own interests, namely, settling for as little financial exposure to the claim as possible. 

As such, we help our clients by evaluating a settlement offer to assess whether it is fair and will be enough to meet all of your needs. If we cannot reach an agreement with the other party, we will not hesitate to take your case to trial.

Are There Time Limits for Filing Your Pedestrian Accident Injury Claim?

Yes. In Pennsylvania, injured pedestrians generally have two years to file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver per Pa. C.S.A. § 5524. If this deadline expires, it is unlikely the courts will hear your case, so it is advantageous to begin legal action sooner rather than later to ensure your claim is prepared and filed in time.

Call Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Johnstown, PA, for a Free Case Review

If you or a loved one were injured as a pedestrian in an accident caused by a negligent road user, reach out to the attorneys at Berger and Green. With over 40 years of experience to bring to the table, our lawyers are proud of the work we do every day for injured people in Pennsylvania.

Our clients’ needs and well-being drive us to work tirelessly on their behalf and get their lives back on track by pursuing the compensation they deserve. So let us put our experience to work for you, too. Start by scheduling a free case review with our team today and learn about your legal options and the next steps for your claim.