Everything You Need to Know About NYC Pedestrian Crashes

How Common Are Pedestrian Crashes in NYC?

Pedestrian crashes are among the most serious traffic incidents in New York. Statewide, approximately 15,000 pedestrians are injured on New York’s roads each year, with over 3,000 requiring hospitalization. In New York City alone, the numbers are alarming:

• In the first nine months of 2024, 645 pedestrians were seriously injured citywide — a 13% increase from the same period in 2023.
• Brooklyn and Queens consistently account for the highest share of pedestrian injuries; Brooklyn alone represented 35% of all pedestrian injuries in the first half of 2024.
• The Bronx and Queens have been especially hard hit, with serious injuries per capita running 20% above the citywide average in the Bronx and up 35% in Queens compared to 2022.
• The economic cost of pedestrian deaths and serious injuries in NYC now exceeds $2 billion annually.

Every week in New York City, an average of 17 pedestrians lose limbs, organs, or suffer other life-altering injuries from traffic violence. The crisis is real — and demands that every New Yorker understand the risks.

When Is a Pedestrian Crash Most Likely?

Timing matters greatly when it comes to pedestrian safety. Research consistently shows that roughly 22% of pedestrian crashes occur on weekdays between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., driven by the overlap of foot traffic and commuting vehicles. Importantly, a similar spike is not observed during the morning rush hours.

The time of day also strongly influences crash severity: During daylight hours, approximately 1-in-10 pedestrian crashes are fatal. Between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., the fatality rate climbs to nearly 1-in-5 — a sobering statistic driven by low visibility and, in many cases, impaired driving.

Seasonal patterns also play a role. Winter months bring shorter days, icy roads, and reduced visibility, all of which raise the risk for walkers. Night-time walkers, seniors, children commuting to school, and regular transit riders face disproportionate risk regardless of season.

When Is a Pedestrian Crash Most Likely?

Timing matters greatly when it comes to pedestrian safety. 2025 injury data shows that the 3pm–6pm window is the single most dangerous period of the day, accounting for approximately 2,266 injuries — roughly 22% of all recorded pedestrian injuries — driven by the convergence of heavy foot traffic and peak commuting vehicles. The 6pm–9pm window follows as the second most dangerous, with 1,712 injuries (~16%).

Importantly, morning rush hours are far less dangerous than their afternoon equivalent: the 6am–9am window recorded 1,513 injuries, significantly below the afternoon peak despite comparable vehicle and pedestrian volumes.

The late night and early morning hours are the safest in terms of raw injury counts — the 3am–6am window recorded only 478 injuries, the lowest of any period. However, the time of day strongly influences crash severity: during daylight hours, approximately 1-in-10 pedestrian crashes are fatal, while between 3am and 6am the fatality rate climbs to nearly 1-in-5, driven by low visibility and, in many cases, impaired driving.

Seasonal patterns also play a role. Winter months bring shorter days, icy roads, and reduced visibility, all of which raise the risk for walkers. Night-time walkers, seniors, children commuting to school, and regular transit riders face disproportionate risk regardless of season.

Koenigsberg & Associates Pedestrian Accident Report

The 7 Most Common Causes of NYC Pedestrian Accidents

Understanding what causes pedestrian accidents is the first step toward preventing them. Here are the seven most frequently cited factors:

• 1. Unmarked or Poorly Marked Crosswalks — Not all crosswalks are clearly visible. Faded paint, inadequate signage, or missing signals can cause drivers to miss crossing pedestrians entirely.
• 2. Alcohol or Drug-Impaired Driving — Impaired drivers struggle to stay in their lanes, let alone spot pedestrians. Most drunk-driving incidents occur at night, compounding the danger of low visibility.
• 3. Distracted Driving — Just five seconds of looking at a phone at 30 mph means a driver travels the length of a football field without watching the road. Distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of all traffic crashes in NYC.
• 4. Left-Hand Turns — At busy intersections, drivers making left-hand turns share timing with pedestrian walk signals. Drivers who speed to beat yellow lights or fail to check for walkers cause a disproportionate number of high-speed strikes.
• 5. Poor Weather Conditions — Rain, snow, and fog reduce driver visibility significantly and make roads more unpredictable. Slick surfaces also extend stopping distances, reducing a driver’s ability to brake in time.
• 6. Inadequate Street Lighting — Many NYC streets and intersections remain poorly lit, making pedestrians nearly invisible to drivers at night. Drivers who forget to turn on their headlights compound the problem dramatically.
• 7. Traffic Blocking Sightlines — Delivery trucks and large vehicles parked near crosswalks create blind spots. A pedestrian stepping into the street may not be visible to a driver until it is too late to stop.

Experts also point to the growing size and weight of SUVs and trucks on city streets as a contributing factor. Larger vehicles are more deadly on impact and have larger blind spots, particularly for children and shorter adults.

Vision Zero and NYC’s Fight for Safer Streets

Launched in 2014, Vision Zero is New York City’s commitment to eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The program has had measurable success: pedestrian deaths in recent years have been roughly 30% lower than in 2013, and NYC has fared far better than the national average, where pedestrian fatalities have climbed to 40-year highs.

However, 2024’s 18% spike in pedestrian deaths was a serious setback, prompting renewed calls for action. Key initiatives underway or recently completed include:

• “Sammy’s Law” — Allows NYC to reduce speed limits to 20 mph on residential and school streets.
• Daylighting 1,000 intersections per year with planters, bike racks, and other physical barriers to improve driver sightlines.
• Expanded red-light camera and speed camera programs — studies show speed cameras reduce deadly speeding by over 90%, with serious injuries declining nearly 30% at camera locations.
• Record protected bike lane installation — over 87.5 miles of protected lanes added in the past three years, improving safety for both cyclists and pedestrians.
• Expanded pedestrian plazas and safety islands throughout the five boroughs.

The early results of these efforts are encouraging: the first half of 2025 saw traffic fatalities drop 32% compared to the same period in 2024, the lowest level since records were first collected in 1910. Still, 111 pedestrian deaths in 2025 is 111 too many.

What to Do If You Are Hit by a Car

Getting struck by a car is a traumatic and disorienting experience. Acting quickly and calmly in the aftermath can protect both your health and your legal rights. Follow these four steps:

1. Get to Safety. Move out of the road if it is safe to do so. If you feel pain, see blood, or suspect broken bones, call for emergency services immediately. Do not make sudden movements — adrenaline can mask serious injuries for several hours.
2. Collect Information. If you are able, photograph the scene, the driver’s vehicle, and any visible injuries. Obtain the driver’s insurance information and contact details. If you are too injured to do this yourself, a police report will capture what you need.
3. See a Doctor Promptly. Visit an emergency room or urgent care facility as soon as you leave the scene. Prompt medical evaluation helps identify hidden injuries and creates a documented record. Delay can give the driver’s insurance company grounds to minimize your claim.
4. Contact a Personal Injury Attorney. Once you have received medical attention, consult an attorney experienced in pedestrian accidents. A skilled lawyer can handle insurance negotiations, court filings, and documentation — allowing you to focus on recovery while fighting for the maximum compensation you deserve.

Why Legal Representation Matters After a Pedestrian Crash

Injuries from pedestrian accidents tend to be far more severe than those from other types of motor vehicle crashes. When you are seriously hurt or hospitalized, the last thing you should face alone is a complex insurance dispute.

New York law recognizes pedestrians as vulnerable road users and holds drivers to a high duty of care. When a driver’s negligence causes your injury — whether through distraction, speeding, failure to yield, or impairment — you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

At Koenigsberg & Associates Law Offices, we have helped thousands of injured New Yorkers recover from pedestrian accidents. Our award-winning team brings the experience and dedication needed to fight on your behalf — in negotiations and, if necessary, in court.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, call us today for a free consultation:

(718) 690-3132

Koenigsberg & Associates Law Offices — Trusted NYC Personal Injury Attorneys