An Ohio pedestrian accident lawyer protects your claim from the moment the driver’s insurer starts asking questions. Pedestrian crashes cause serious injuries, and the insurance company’s first move is often to suggest that you stepped out where you should not have. ASP&S answers that with evidence, handles every conversation with the adjuster, and builds a claim that reflects what the crash actually cost you.
People call us after being hit in a crosswalk, in a store parking lot, while walking along a road with no sidewalk, or while getting off a bus. Some are pedestrians hurt by a driver who ran a light. Others are families who lost someone. Whatever happened, the first job is the same: find out how the crash occurred and who should pay for it.
ASP&S has worked out of Youngstown since 1971, which makes over 55 years. Our clients come mostly from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. For crashes close to home, our Youngstown pedestrian and bicycle accident lawyer page covers the local side of these cases. We also take cases throughout Ohio, so if you were hurt in Akron, Cleveland or Columbus, we can still review what happened. We are not a volume shop that settles fast and moves on. We prepare each claim as if it may have to be argued in court, because that is how a claim gets taken seriously.
The driver is usually at fault, because Ohio law puts a heavy duty of care on anyone behind the wheel. That said, fault can be shared, and it can extend beyond the driver.
Most pedestrian cases come down to driver negligence: speeding, distracted driving, failing to yield while making a turn, rolling through a stop sign, or driving impaired. The same rules apply to cyclists, which is why our Ohio bicycle accident lawyer team handles many of the same driver behaviors.
Insurers often argue that the pedestrian was partly to blame, whether for crossing mid-block, crossing against a signal, or wearing dark clothes at night. Partial fault does not end your case. Under Ohio’s comparative fault rule, you can still recover as long as your share of the fault is not greater than everyone else’s combined, and your award is reduced by your percentage.
Some crashes involve more than one careless party. A property owner may have left a parking lot dark or poorly marked, an employer may be responsible when the driver was working, or a bus or delivery company may be liable for its driver. Each of those parties may carry its own insurance, which matters when injuries are severe.
Ohio’s traffic code sets out who must yield and when, and those rules shape how fault is argued. A pedestrian accident attorney uses them to show what the driver should have done.
That last rule matters more than people expect. Even when a pedestrian crossed mid-block, a driver who was speeding, looking at a phone or not watching the road can still be held responsible. The question becomes how much fault each side carries, and that is where evidence decides the outcome.
You can recover compensation for your financial losses and for the way the injury has changed your life. The value of a pedestrian accident case depends on how badly you were hurt, how long recovery takes, and how fault is divided.
Damages in an Ohio pedestrian accident claim can include:
Pedestrian injuries tend to be severe: broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal injuries and soft tissue damage that lingers for months. Non-economic damages are often the largest part of compensation for injured pedestrians, and insurers push hardest against them, so we document how the injury has changed your work, your home life and your quality of life.
If the driver fled or carried too little insurance, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy may apply, even though you were on foot when you were hit. We check every policy that could pay.
A strong case connects three things: what the driver did, how the crash happened, and what it did to your health. We build all three.
Throughout, we keep you informed in plain language. You will know what is happening with your case, what the insurance company is offering and why, so every decision stays yours.
In most cases you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for your injuries, under Ohio’s statute of limitations for bodily injury. When a pedestrian is killed, the personal representative of the estate generally has two years from the date of death to bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of the family, and our Ohio wrongful death lawyer team handles those cases with the care they need.
Two years can pass quickly while you are in treatment, and evidence like store or traffic video can be recorded over. Early legal representation protects both your deadline and your proof.
Our office is at 21 N. Wickliffe Circle in Youngstown, OH, and most of our pedestrian clients live in the Mahoning Valley. We handle claims statewide as well, and our Ohio personal injury lawyer team brings the same preparation to every county, whether you need a pedestrian accident lawyer in Ohio’s largest cities or its smallest towns.
Get medical care right away and report the crash to police. Night crashes often turn on visibility, so photos of the lighting, the names of witnesses and any nearby video can help show what the driver should have seen.
Yes. Drivers have to watch for people on foot in parking lots, and the property owner may share responsibility if poor lighting or layout played a part.
You may still have a claim. Ohio’s comparative fault rule reduces your recovery by your share of the blame, and it only bars recovery if your fault is greater than everyone else’s combined.
No. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks, but pedestrians crossing elsewhere must yield to traffic. Drivers still have to use due care to avoid hitting anyone.
Snow, rain and ice affect visibility and stopping distance. Drivers are expected to slow down for those conditions, so bad weather rarely excuses a driver who hits a pedestrian.
Yes. Bus stops and transit areas have heavy foot traffic, and drivers are expected to watch for people stepping on and off the curb there.
Settlement timing depends on your injuries and whether fault is disputed. Some claims settle within months, while others take longer because treatment is ongoing or the insurer contests liability.
Yes. A parent or guardian can bring a claim for an injured child. Different deadline rules can apply to minors, so it is still wise to act early.
Report the crash to police right away and get medical care. Even if the driver is never found, uninsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy may pay for your injuries, and an attorney can help you make that claim.
Distracted driving can strongly support your claim. Phone records, witness statements and video can show the driver was not watching the road.
Soft tissue injuries and chronic pain are often the hardest, because they may not show up on X-rays or MRIs. Consistent treatment and clear medical records make the difference.
Bring the police report or crash number, photos, medical records, insurance letters and any notes about the crash. If you do not have all of it, call anyway. We can help gather the rest.
You should not have to argue with an insurance company while you are still healing. Call ASP&S ASAP at 330-778-ASAP (2727) or 330-792-6033, or reach out online for a free consultation about your pedestrian accident.