
Choose A Firm With A History of Excellence
LET OUR TEAM FIGHT FOR YOUPennsylvania Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians who are struck by cars or trucks are at a high risk for serious injury, as there is nothing to protect them from the force of impact during a collision. Pedestrian accident injuries include blunt force trauma, broken bones, brain injury, and sometimes even paralysis or death. Accidents involving pedestrians tend to occur most commonly at intersections and in parking lots.
If you've been injured in a pedestrian accident in Pennsylvania, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Metzger Wickersham today. We can explain your rights and help you explore all avenues of compensation for your injuries.
With a large support staff, and the extensive resources of a firm that has been around since 1888, our Pennsylvania pedestrian accident lawyers can represent you and your recovery. We have offices in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Pottsville, Shippensburg, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Frederick, and York and can travel to meet you at your home, the hospital, or anywhere in the state.
Call (888) 286-2850 or contact us online for a free case evaluation with our firm today. We are available to take your calls 24/7!
Do Pedestrians Always Have the Right of Way?
Drivers always have a duty to be on the lookout for pedestrians. That being said, they occasionally have the right of way when it comes to sharing the road with people on foot. In other words, pedestrians do not always have the legal right of way in Pennsylvania—however, because drivers have a responsibility to do everything possible to avoid causing an accident with a pedestrian, they are often the ones to blame in these types of collisions.
Driver responsibilities include yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections, obeying speed limits, using turn signals, and staying alert to surroundings. Motorists must also exhibit extra caution when driving near or around pedestrians who appear lost, confused, disoriented, impaired, disabled, or intoxicated.
Although driver negligence causes many pedestrian accidents, it is important to remember that pedestrians also have a responsibility to be cautious when sharing the road.
Pedestrian Laws in Pennsylvania
The following is an overview of some basic pedestrian laws in Pennsylvania:
- Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks and at intersections where there are no traffic signals
- Pedestrians have the right of way when walking on sidewalks that cross building entrances, parking structure entrances, roads, alleyways, driveways, etc.
- It is unlawful to walk on a roadway if there is a sidewalk available
- If no sidewalk is available, pedestrians must remain on the shoulder or edge of the road as far away from traffic as possible; if it is a two-way road you should walk on the left side
- Pedestrians must yield to motorists when walking along the side of a roadway
- In urban areas, pedestrians cannot cross the street at any place except a marked crosswalk between intersections
- Pedestrians cannot cross an intersection diagonally (also known as jaywalking) unless they have received authorization to do so from a police officer or another traffic control person
- Pedestrians may not suddenly enter a roadway from a sidewalk or another place of safety when vehicles are unable to stop or yield
Drivers and pedestrians can both play a part in avoiding accidents by following basic safety precautions and following the rules of the road.
Filing a Pedestrian Accident Claim
More often than not, pedestrian accidents happen because motorists are not paying attention or are driving aggressively or recklessly. When this is the case, injured individuals or the families of those wrongfully killed in pedestrian accidents can seek compensation by filing personal injury claims or lawsuits against the liable party.
You may have grounds for a case if the motorist who hit you engaged in any of the following negligent or wrongful behaviors:
- Texting while driving or driving while distracted
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving while fatigued/falling asleep at the wheel
- Speeding, including driving too fast for weather or road conditions
- Failing to check for pedestrians before turning
- Making unsafe or unlawful turns or passing unlawfully
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Aggressive or reckless driving
- Failing to obey traffic control devices, such as red lights or stop signs
- Violating traffic laws/rules of the road
You might also have a case if you can prove that third-party negligence contributed to or caused the accident. This could be the case if an auto defect prevented the motorist from stopping in time to avoid a collision or if the roadway was defective, leading to the crash.
At Metzger Wickersham, we can evaluate the factors involved in your case to determine who is liable. We understand the immense impact pedestrian accidents have on victims, as well as their loved ones, which is why we always strive to recover maximum compensation.
Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Victims
Due to the severity of their injuries, pedestrians who are hit by large, heavy motor vehicles often require emergency medical attention and extensive, ongoing care. This typically results in massive medical bills and ongoing expenses, made all the more difficult when victims are unable to return to work for weeks, months, or even years. By filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party, we can help our clients fight for fair compensation for these and other damages.
Depending on the specifics of your case, we may be able to help you recover for the following damages:
- Emergency medical care
- Ongoing and future medical expenses
- Treatments, hospitalization, medications, and related costs
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress
- Lost income/wages, including future earnings
- Lost or reduced earning capacity due to disability or impairment
- In-home assistance and care
- Counseling and/or therapy
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, etc.
At Metzger Wickersham, we truly care about you and are committed to do everything possible to help you get back on your feet. Our team of experienced Pennsylvania pedestrian accident lawyers is here to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have when navigating the legal process.
Distracted Walking Statistics
Texting and driving collisions have been on the rise in recent years, with distracted drivers causing as many as one out of every four crashes nationwide. There are numerous educational efforts aimed at alerting the public to the risks of distracted driving. However, distracted driving is not the only potential cause of injury from cell phones. Studies suggest that distracted walking may be just as dangerous for pedestrians.
According to Science Daily, around 10 percent of pedestrians who seek treatment in emergency rooms after an accident were texting when their injuries occurred. This estimate may actually be lower than the reality, because many pedestrians who get hurt while on their phones are embarrassed to admit the role distraction played in the incident.
Further, the number of people injured in distracted walking accidents has increased dramatically between 2004 and 2010. Healthline reports that emergency room visits resulting from cell phone use while walking have tripled over this time period. The largest increase in pedestrian accidents has been among people between the ages of 16 and 25.
Distracted Walking Accidents and Your Rights
A texting pedestrian faces the same three types of distraction that a texting driver does: manual, cognitive, and visual distraction. Like a distracted driver, a distracted pedestrian is not looking at the road or sidewalk in front of them; instead of focusing on safety, their brain is focused on the text message being sent or read.
Due to lack of attention, pedestrians put themselves at serious risk of injury when they use their phones as they walk. Texting pedestrians are at risk of bumping into things, walking into walls, or even stepping out into traffic.
If a distracted pedestrian walks into traffic, they could be deemed partially at fault for any accident caused as a result of their negligent actions. However, a driver may still share some legal responsibility if they strike and injure a distracted pedestrian with their vehicle. Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence law, an injured pedestrian could potentially recover compensation as long as the driver is found to be at least 51 percent responsible for the accident that occurs. The driver will pay only for the portion of the damages equal to his part in causing the crash.
If you’ve been injured in any type of collision, whether as a driver or a pedestrian, it’s always best to contact a qualified attorney. Pennsylvania law can be confusing, and an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer in Harrisburg can help you understand your rights and explain how the law applies to your particular case.
Request a Free Consultation Today
If you or someone you love was injured after being hit by a car, motorcycle, truck, or even a bicyclist, Metzger Wickersham can help. We draw on more than 135 years of experience and a long-standing reputation for aggressive client advocacy. We now utilize this experience when standing up to powerful insurance companies and their defense teams. They know that we will not back down from a challenge and that we are prepared to fully litigate our clients’ cases at trial.
We offer free consultations and contingency fees. This means that you do not pay anything upfront or out-of-pocket when you hire our firm. Instead, our attorneys only collect fees if they successfully recover compensation for you.
To learn more, contact us online or call (888) 286-2850.
Frequently Asked Questions
Helping You Every Step of the Way-
Hiring a lawyer can dramatically increase your chances of receiving compensation for your accident, especially if you believe somebody else was at fault. You may have been lawfully crossing an intersection at a crosswalk when a drunk driver sped through a red light. You might have been struck by a texting driver in a parking lot. If negligence was a factor in your accident, you could be entitled to more compensation than the insurance company might want you to believe. A pedestrian accident attorney will advocate for your rights and level the playing field with the insurance company.
-
In certain circumstances, an attorney may be able to negotiate with the insurance company to obtain a settlement on your behalf. In other instances, a lawsuit may need to be filed. If you've been in a pedestrian accident, contact a law firm that's familiar with pedestrian accident cases. An experienced attorney can review the particular facts of your case and walk you through the appropriate actions to take against any at-fault parties.
-
The "statute of limitations" in each state governs the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. Generally speaking, Pennsylvania has a two-year statute of limitations for claims against the operator of a motor vehicle who causes injury to a pedestrian. Keep in mind that a failure to file any claim you may have in a timely manner could result in your claim being forever barred.
-
At Metzger Wickersham, we understand that people who are injured through no fault of their own may be struggling financially. For this reason, we provide legal representation on a contingency fee basis. This means that clients do not pay any attorneys' fees unless we receive a favorable settlement or award for them. In other words, you do not pay unless we win your case.
-
Every case is different. Unique injuries and circumstances surround each accident. An attorney cannot place a value on your injury claim until they thoroughly investigate and review the details of your case. At Metzger Wickersham, we work one-on-one with clients to build the most solid and successful legal strategy possible. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you or a loved one with a pedestrian accident case.


Success Stories
A History of Happy Clients-
"I was involved in a car accident (not at fault), that seemed like it would be straightforward. The at-fault driver accepted fault and so did their insurance company. The problem was that they wanted ..."M.H.
-
"I worked with [Attorney] Zachary Campbell & [Paralegal] Tammy Dagrosa & they were AMAZING! They helped me win my case & handle my medical debt from my accident! Thanks to them, my daughter & I will be ..."Former Client
-
"Very happy with our experience would highly recommend them Thank you Zack Campbell"Diana B.
-
"Metzger Wickersham’s [Attorney] Zach was so easy to work with. His professionalism is unmatched to any other attorney I have ever had to deal with. He always kept me informed on any new information ..."Cindy
-
"It is hard to express in words how grateful I am that I chose Metzger Wickersham to help me with my case. [Attorney] Andrea, [Paralegal] Shawn (Wilkes Barre Pa), [Attorney] Zach, [Paralegal] Melanie, ..."Patricia L.
-
"[Attorney] Zach and [Paralegal] Amber were beyond helpful. The attention to detail, constant communication and customer service is beyond appreciated. Would recommend to anyone that needs their help ..."Denise S.
-
"From the first interaction to the last, Attorney Zach Campbell and Paralegal Amber Freeman were professional and informative and provided great advice and guidance throughout the process. Never have ..."Crystal B.
-
"From the start, I could tell Attorney Campbell not only cared about my case but Me the person. To tell you the truth without his helpful advice, I'm not sure what the outcome would have been."Jill and Terry B.
-
"Attorney Zach Campbell and Paralegal Sandy Spade were great to work with. Zach is one of the best and most knowledgeable attorneys I have ever met."Janey G.
-
"Really appreciated working with Zach! He is very professional and helpful! Great experience! Thanks, MW!"Nikki C.
-
"We were very pleased with the performance, support, professionalism and determination of Mr. Zach Campbell and the law firm on our case. Every step along the way, we were kept informed of the progress."L.H.
-
"Zach was so easy to work with. His professionalism is unmatched to any other attorney I have ever had to deal with. He always kept me informed on any new information that came up in the course of his day."Cindy

-
Client-Focused & Results DrivenYou are more than just a case number. At our firm, we treat our clients like family and ensure you get the recovery you deserve.
-
24/7 RepresentationThe minute you need us, we are here to help. When you can't visit us, we'll visit you, and when you need answers, we'll give you solutions.
-
Dedicated TeamWhen you trust us with your case, you get a FULL team of dedicated and experienced attorneys working to solve your case.
-
Decades of ExperienceOur team has had our doors open for over 135 years and we have roots dating back to 1888.