Call 911. Get medical care. Then gather what proof you can. Being struck while walking changes everything in a blink. The noise of the city fades. You’re left on the ground wondering how bad it is, who will pay the bills, and if you will ever feel normal again.
Philadelphia sees far too many pedestrian crashes every year. PennDOT says thousands of people on foot are injured statewide. Many of them are here — on Broad by Temple, along Market in Center City, or crossing Roosevelt Boulevard, which everyone knows is dangerous.
Do I have rights if I wasn’t in a crosswalk?
Yes. Pennsylvania law protects pedestrians everywhere, not just in painted lines. Drivers must keep a proper lookout.
Even if you crossed mid-block on Broad or cut across near a SEPTA stop in Olney, the driver may still carry most of the blame. If they were speeding, on their phone, or ignoring traffic, the law can hold them responsible.
Our state uses comparative negligence. You can recover if you are less than 51 percent at fault. That rule has helped plenty of people I’ve represented who were hit outside a crosswalk.
What if the driver says, “I didn’t see them”?
I hear it all the time. It is not much of a defense.
Drivers have a duty to look. That means slowing where foot traffic is heavy, being cautious near schools, hospitals, and bus stops, and adjusting for rain or darkness. If someone gets hit near CHOP, Penn, or at 15th and Market, it is usually not about visibility. It is about impatience or distraction.
What kind of compensation is possible?
It depends on your injuries and how the crash happened.
- Economic losses. Hospital bills from Jefferson, Temple, or Einstein. Lost paychecks if you miss work. Cab or bus fare to get to follow-up appointments.
- Non-economic losses. Pain. Fear of crossing streets. Nightmares. Losing the simple things, like walking in Fairmount Park or strolling Passyunk Avenue.
Serious injuries can lead to significant recoveries. Each case turns on the facts.
Should I take the insurance company’s first offer?
No. Not before talking to a lawyer.
Adjusters call fast. They act concerned. They push a quick check for a few thousand dollars. It feels helpful in the moment. It almost never is.
I have seen people take $5,000 only to find out later they need surgery. Their bills alone were ten times that amount. Once you sign, you are locked out of more.
What proof should I gather?
If you can move, grab what you can:
- Call police and get a report.
- Take photos of your injuries, the car, and the street.
- Ask witnesses for names and numbers. The guy waiting for the bus. The woman with grocery bags. A neighbor walking her dog.
- Notice cameras on stores or SEPTA poles. Video disappears quickly.
- Get medical care right away, even if you think you are fine. Adrenaline hides pain. Keep every record and receipt.
How long do I have to bring a case?
In most pedestrian injury cases in Pennsylvania, you get two years from the crash. That is the statute of limitations. Two years sounds long, but evidence does not wait. Cameras overwrite. Witnesses scatter. The sooner you act, the stronger your case.
What if the driver fled or had little insurance?
Other options may exist. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can apply, even if you were walking. Health insurance can help cover treatment. Sometimes more than one driver or party shares blame. Each path requires fast investigation.
What about crossing mid-block or against the light?
It matters, but it does not end the case. If you share some blame, the court looks at percentages. Under the law, any recovery is reduced by your share. As long as you are under 51 percent, you can still recover. Shifting fault back onto the driver — for speeding, texting, or making a bad turn — is where we come in.
What makes Philadelphia pedestrian cases unique?
This city has tight streets, constant traffic, and people everywhere. Kids heading to school in North Philly. Seniors with canes crossing near a Wawa in South Philly. Hospital workers rushing home after a night shift.
Add crowded bus stops, trolley lines, and Roosevelt Boulevard, and you see why crashes keep happening. The city tracks these hot spots under its Vision Zero program. That context matters in court. It shows what safe driving is supposed to look like on our streets.
Step by step after a pedestrian crash
- Call 911 and get medical care.
- Take photos if you can.
- Get witness names and numbers.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer.
- Call a lawyer who knows Philadelphia pedestrian cases.
Why choose a Philadelphia lawyer for a pedestrian crash?
Because local knowledge matters. Roosevelt Boulevard is not Rittenhouse. Frankford Avenue is not South Street. Each corridor has its own dangers. Knowing the patterns, the judges, and the insurers who work these cases gives you an edge.
Bottom line
You did not choose to get hit while walking. You can choose how you respond.
Call 1-800-CANT-WORK. Visit 1800CANTWORK.com. We will preserve the proof, push the insurer, and fight for what you need while you focus on getting better.
What Should I Do If I’m Hit by a Car in Philadelphia?
Call 911. Get medical care. Then gather what proof you can.
Being struck while walking changes everything in a blink. The noise of the city fades. You’re left on the ground wondering how bad it is, who will pay the bills, and if you will ever feel normal again.
Philadelphia sees far too many pedestrian crashes every year. PennDOT says thousands of people on foot are injured statewide. Many of them are here — on Broad by Temple, along Market in Center City, or crossing Roosevelt Boulevard, which everyone knows is dangerous.
Do I have rights if I wasn’t in a crosswalk?
Yes. Pennsylvania law protects pedestrians everywhere, not just in painted lines. Drivers must keep a proper lookout.
Even if you crossed mid-block on Broad or cut across near a SEPTA stop in Olney, the driver may still carry most of the blame. If they were speeding, on their phone, or ignoring traffic, the law can hold them responsible.
Our state uses comparative negligence. You can recover if you are less than 51 percent at fault. That rule has helped plenty of people I’ve represented who were hit outside a crosswalk.
What if the driver says, “I didn’t see them”?
I hear it all the time. It is not much of a defense.
Drivers have a duty to look. That means slowing where foot traffic is heavy, being cautious near schools, hospitals, and bus stops, and adjusting for rain or darkness. If someone gets hit near CHOP, Penn, or at 15th and Market, it is usually not about visibility. It is about impatience or distraction.
What kind of compensation is possible?
It depends on your injuries and how the crash happened.
- Economic losses. Hospital bills from Jefferson, Temple, or Einstein. Lost paychecks if you miss work. Cab or bus fare to get to follow-up appointments.
- Non-economic losses. Pain. Fear of crossing streets. Nightmares. Losing the simple things, like walking in Fairmount Park or strolling Passyunk Avenue.
Serious injuries can lead to significant recoveries. Each case turns on the facts.
Should I take the insurance company’s first offer?
No. Not before talking to a lawyer.
Adjusters call fast. They act concerned. They push a quick check for a few thousand dollars. It feels helpful in the moment. It almost never is.
I have seen people take $5,000 only to find out later they need surgery. Their bills alone were ten times that amount. Once you sign, you are locked out of more.
What proof should I gather?
If you can move, grab what you can:
- Call police and get a report.
- Take photos of your injuries, the car, and the street.
- Ask witnesses for names and numbers. The guy waiting for the bus. The woman with grocery bags. A neighbor walking her dog.
- Notice cameras on stores or SEPTA poles. Video disappears quickly.
- Get medical care right away, even if you think you are fine. Adrenaline hides pain. Keep every record and receipt.
How long do I have to bring a case?
In most pedestrian injury cases in Pennsylvania, you get two years from the crash. That is the statute of limitations. Two years sounds long, but evidence does not wait. Cameras overwrite. Witnesses scatter. The sooner you act, the stronger your case.
What if the driver fled or had little insurance?
Other options may exist. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can apply, even if you were walking. Health insurance can help cover treatment. Sometimes more than one driver or party shares blame. Each path requires fast investigation.
What about crossing mid-block or against the light?
It matters, but it does not end the case. If you share some blame, the court looks at percentages. Under the law, any recovery is reduced by your share. As long as you are under 51 percent, you can still recover. Shifting fault back onto the driver — for speeding, texting, or making a bad turn — is where we come in.
What makes Philadelphia pedestrian cases unique?
This city has tight streets, constant traffic, and people everywhere. Kids heading to school in North Philly. Seniors with canes crossing near a Wawa in South Philly. Hospital workers rushing home after a night shift.
Add crowded bus stops, trolley lines, and Roosevelt Boulevard, and you see why crashes keep happening. The city tracks these hot spots under its Vision Zero program. That context matters in court. It shows what safe driving is supposed to look like on our streets.
Step by step after a pedestrian crash
- Call 911 and get medical care.
- Take photos if you can.
- Get witness names and numbers.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer.
- Call a lawyer who knows Philadelphia pedestrian cases.
Why choose a Philadelphia lawyer for a pedestrian crash?
Because local knowledge matters. Roosevelt Boulevard is not Rittenhouse. Frankford Avenue is not South Street. Each corridor has its own dangers. Knowing the patterns, the judges, and the insurers who work these cases gives you an edge.
Bottom line
You did not choose to get hit while walking. You can choose how you respond.
Call 1-800-CANT-WORK. Visit 1800CANTWORK.com. We will preserve the proof, push the insurer, and fight for what you need while you focus on getting better.
