Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Serving Quincy and the South Shore

Being struck by a car can leave you with injuries that change everything — and a list of questions about who pays, whether the driver can be found, and what your recovery is actually worth. I help pedestrians across Massachusetts identify every available source of compensation and build the strongest possible case for what they've lost.

Why Pedestrian Accident Cases Demand Immediate Attention

Pedestrian accidents tend to produce serious injuries. Without the protection of a vehicle frame, a person struck by a car can suffer broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and internal trauma that requires months — or years — of treatment. The medical bills accumulate quickly, and lost wages follow. Massachusetts law gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim, but evidence — surveillance footage, witness accounts, skid marks — disappears far sooner than that. The sooner I can begin building your case, the more complete the picture we can present.

 

Quincy and the South Shore generate significant pedestrian traffic near MBTA stations, shopping corridors, and busy intersections along routes like Hancock Street, Granite Street, and Southern Artery. These are environments where driver inattention, failure to yield, and speeding create real danger for people on foot every day.

Who Pays After a Pedestrian Is Struck by a Car

Massachusetts is a no-fault insurance state, which means your own auto insurance policy — through the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefit — may be the first source of payment for your medical expenses, even though you were on foot. If you don't carry auto insurance yourself, you may be able to access PIP through a family member's policy or the driver's policy.

 

PIP covers only a portion of your losses. For the full picture — pain and suffering, long-term medical care, lost earning capacity — I pursue the at-fault driver's liability coverage directly. Depending on the circumstances, additional sources of recovery may include:

 

  • The driver's bodily injury liability policy
  • Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage
  • A third party, such as a municipality responsible for a dangerous intersection or a property owner whose negligence contributed to the accident
  • The Massachusetts MBTA or another transit authority, if applicable

 

Identifying every layer of available coverage is one of the most consequential things I do early in a pedestrian accident case.

Hit-and-Run Accidents — You May Still Have a Path to Recovery

When a driver flees the scene, the immediate instinct is to assume there's no one left to pursue. In many cases, that's not true. Massachusetts uninsured motorist coverage exists precisely for situations like this — if you carry UM coverage on your own auto policy, or if a household family member does, that coverage can step in to compensate you even when the at-fault driver is never identified.

 

I also work to investigate hit-and-run accidents thoroughly before concluding that the driver cannot be found. Traffic and business surveillance cameras, bystander cell phone footage, and witness canvassing have identified drivers in cases that initially looked like dead ends. A hit-and-run does not automatically close the door on recovery — it changes where we look first.

 

If you were struck by a car that fled the scene near a busy South Shore corridor or MBTA stop, contact me as soon as possible. The window for preserving footage and witness information is short.

Crosswalk Accidents and the Question of Fault

Massachusetts law gives pedestrians the right of way in marked crosswalks and at many intersections, but drivers frequently contest fault — claiming the pedestrian stepped out suddenly, wasn't visible, or was crossing outside a crosswalk. These arguments are common and they are often wrong.

 

I evaluate crosswalk injury cases by examining traffic signal data, crosswalk markings, driver speed, sight lines, and any available footage. Pedestrians also bear some responsibility for their own safety under Massachusetts comparative negligence rules, which means that if a jury finds you partially at fault, your compensation is reduced proportionally. My job is to build the clearest possible record that places primary fault where it belongs — on the driver who failed to yield.

 

Fault disputes in pedestrian accident cases are exactly where legal representation makes the largest difference. Insurance adjusters move quickly to assign shared blame and reduce payouts. Having a pedestrian accident lawyer in Massachusetts who has spent 15 years in courtrooms across the state changes that dynamic.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Massachusetts

  • Can a pedestrian collect PIP benefits if they don't own a car?

    Yes, in many situations. If you live with a family member who carries auto insurance, you may be eligible for PIP through their policy. If not, you may be able to access PIP through the at-fault driver's insurer. The rules depend on the specific facts of your case, which is why reviewing your coverage options early matters.

  • Who is at fault in a crosswalk accident in Massachusetts?

    Massachusetts law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and at controlled intersections. If a driver failed to yield and struck you, they are generally at fault. However, if you were crossing outside a crosswalk or against a signal, comparative negligence may apply and reduce your recovery. The specific circumstances — speed, visibility, signal timing — determine how fault is ultimately assigned.

  • What compensation can a pedestrian get after being hit by a car?

    Pedestrian accident compensation can include current and future medical expenses, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and costs related to ongoing rehabilitation or disability. Because pedestrian injuries are often severe, the long-term value of a claim can be substantially higher than the initial medical bills suggest. I work to account for the full trajectory of your recovery, not just what's already been spent.

  • What should I do if the driver who hit me fled the scene?

    Call 911 immediately and get a police report filed — this is essential for any future insurance claim. Note everything you can: the vehicle's make, color, partial plate, direction of travel. Seek medical attention right away, even if you feel you can manage. Then contact a pedestrian accident lawyer before speaking with any insurance company. Hit-and-run claims involve specific UM coverage procedures that must be followed correctly to preserve your right to recover.