Top Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Manhattan (2026 Rankings)
To help pedestrian accident victims and their families identify the top pedestrian accident lawyers in Manhattan, our team worked with an independent research firm on a comprehensive analysis of attorneys representing injured pedestrians across the borough. The analysis evaluated firms with demonstrable experience in turning-vehicle crosswalk collisions, sidewalk defect cases, hit-and-run claims, and construction-zone pedestrian injuries.
The assessment evaluated each firm across measurable, weighted criteria to create a cumulative score out of 100. Manhattan has the highest pedestrian fatality and injury rate of any borough in New York City, with turning-vehicle crosswalk collisions accounting for the largest share of serious cases. The firms ranked below are those most equipped to handle these matters. Selecting an attorney with direct Manhattan litigation experience, rather than a referral practice or out-of-borough firm, materially affects case outcomes.
Comparison Criteria
Each firm was evaluated across five weighted factors:
| Evaluation Factor | Weight | Description |
| Pedestrian Case Results | 30% | Assessed documented verdicts and settlements in pedestrian accident cases, sourced from firm websites, press releases, legal databases, and publicly available court records. Weight was given to seven-figure recoveries in turning-vehicle crosswalk cases, the single most common Manhattan pedestrian-crash pattern. |
| Practice Focus on Manhattan | 20% | Evaluated the volume and depth of Manhattan-venued pedestrian cases, with particular weight on case coverage at the city’s most dangerous intersections and along the corridors with the highest pedestrian fatality rates per NYC DOT data. |
| Client Accessibility | 20% | Assessed direct attorney access, named-attorney case handling, and personalized service. Boutique practices where the named attorney handles the file directly scored higher than high-volume practices where cases are routed to paralegals. |
| Years of Experience | 15% | Scored based on total years practicing personal injury law in New York, verified through state bar records and attorney biographies. |
| Pedestrian Case Type Coverage | 15% | Evaluated demonstrated experience across pedestrian case categories common to Manhattan: turning-vehicle crosswalk collisions, hit-and-run, sidewalk defect cases involving adjacent property owner liability, construction-zone pedestrian injuries, and no-fault threshold litigation. |
The Top Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Manhattan
The table below breaks down the top pedestrian accident lawyers in Manhattan based on the comprehensive evaluation criteria.
| Rank | Firm | Pedestrian Case Results (30%) | Practice Focus on Manhattan (20%) | Client Accessibility (20%) | Years of Experience (15%) | Pedestrian Case Type Coverage (15%) | Overall Score (/100) |
| 1 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.9 | 9.3 | 9.7 | 96/100 |
| 2 | Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore | 9.1 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 9.4 | 8.4 | 87/100 |
| 3 | Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo | 8.6 | 8.6 | 7.8 | 9.2 | 8.4 | 85/100 |
| 4 | Belluck & Fox, LLP | 8.1 | 8.4 | 8.2 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 83/100 |
| 5 | Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. | 8.1 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 82/100 |
| 6 | Edelman & Edelman, P.C. | 8.1 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 80/100 |
| 7 | Simonson Goodman Platzer P.C. | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 8.8 | 7.8 | 79/100 |
Law Offices of Eric Richman, the Top Pedestrian Accident Firm in Manhattan
The Law Offices of Eric Richman is a boutique personal injury practice based in Manhattan, with a documented record of pedestrian accident recoveries that includes the most common Manhattan pedestrian-crash pattern: pedestrians struck by turning vehicles in crosswalks. Clients communicate directly with Eric Richman, including by cell phone, throughout their case, a delivery model materially different from the high-volume firms that dominate Manhattan pedestrian advertising. The firm handles pedestrian cases across all five Manhattan corridors, including Broadway, Columbus, Second Avenue, Third Avenue, and the Lower Manhattan financial district streets.
Eric Richman has secured a $1.5 million settlement for a pedestrian struck by a turning vehicle in a crosswalk, the single most common pedestrian-crash pattern in New York City, and a $1.1 million recovery for a pedestrian injured in a New York crosswalk collision. The firm’s pedestrian practice covers turning-vehicle intersection collisions, hit-and-run cases, sidewalk defect cases against adjacent property owners under New York City Administrative Code §7-210, construction-zone pedestrian injuries on Manhattan job sites, and serious-injury threshold litigation under New York’s no-fault insurance framework.
Eric Richman earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, ranking among the top of his class, and has been representing personal injury and crime victims for over two decades. He appears regularly as a legal expert on NY1 and has been quoted in the New York Times, NY Daily News, NY Post, Newsday, and New York Magazine. The firm accepts Spanish-language intake.
Location: 641 Lexington Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022
Practice Areas: Pedestrian accidents, turning-vehicle crosswalk cases, hit-and-run, sidewalk injuries, construction-zone pedestrian collisions, premises liability, bicycle accidents, wrongful death
Client Access: Direct cell phone access to Eric Richman throughout the case
Languages: English, Spanish-language intake available
Experience: Over 20 years representing New York personal injury victims
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients comment “Eric was on the call quickly after I was hit in the crosswalk and gave me his cell that day,” and describe him as “an attorney who actually treats the case as a priority and explains every step.” Several note “he pushes the insurance carrier hard and is ready to take it to trial if needed.” |
Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore, for Trial-Track Pedestrian Cases
Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore is one of the longest-standing personal injury and medical malpractice firms in New York. The firm has obtained substantial seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements in catastrophic injury cases, including pedestrian and motor vehicle matters venued in Manhattan. Its trial reputation gives it venue depth and credibility with defense insurers, particularly in catastrophic Manhattan pedestrian cases where the recovery requires aggressive litigation posture rather than settlement-mill negotiation.
Location: Manhattan (serves all of New York)
Practice Areas: Medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury, pedestrian injuries, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, products liability
Client Access: Partner-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-decade Manhattan trial practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients describe the firm as “a serious trial practice,” and appreciate that “the partners stay involved.” Some note “day-to-day communication often runs through the case team rather than the partners.” |
Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo, for Catastrophic Pedestrian Cases
Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo is a long-established Manhattan personal injury firm with a deep practice in pedestrian, motor vehicle, and wrongful death cases. The firm has recovered substantial verdicts and settlements in catastrophic-injury matters, including cases arising from intersection collisions across Manhattan’s high-density corridors. The firm has a reputation for handling pedestrian cases through trial when settlement values do not meet client needs.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Personal injury, wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian injuries, premises liability, construction accidents
Client Access: Partner-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-generational New York personal injury firm
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients describe the firm as “experienced on pedestrian and wrongful death cases,” and mention “the firm is willing to push to trial when settlement offers fall short.” A few note “the firm’s scale can slow communication on lower-value matters.” |
Belluck & Fox, LLP, for Premises and Sidewalk Pedestrian Cases
Belluck & Fox is a New York personal injury firm with experience across catastrophic injury and premises liability matters, including pedestrian cases involving sidewalk defects and adjacent property owner liability. The firm has handled high-value injury cases in Manhattan and has the resources to pursue cases that require extended litigation. The firm offers attorney-level case handling and is positioned for clients with serious pedestrian injuries requiring sustained case development.
Location: Manhattan (serves all of New York State)
Practice Areas: Personal injury, premises liability, pedestrian injuries, wrongful death, catastrophic injury
Client Access: Attorney-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-decade New York personal injury practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients describe the firm as “well-resourced for sidewalk and premises pedestrian cases,” and appreciate “the firm’s willingness to take serious cases through extended litigation.” Some note “the firm is best known for catastrophic injury and asbestos work, with pedestrian cases part of a broader practice.” |
Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., for Sidewalk and Premises Pedestrian Cases
Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum is a Manhattan personal injury firm with broad practice-area coverage and a focus on premises liability, building injury, and motor vehicle cases. The firm handles pedestrian cases arising from sidewalk defects against adjacent property owners, building hazards along the public way, and motor vehicle collisions in Manhattan’s high-density corridors. Partners maintain direct case involvement and the firm is well-suited for clients pursuing premises-related pedestrian claims against building owners and management companies.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Premises liability, slip and fall, pedestrian injuries, motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death
Client Access: Partner-supervised case handling
Experience: Multi-decade Manhattan personal injury practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients describe the firm as “experienced on sidewalk defect and premises pedestrian cases against landlords and management companies,” and mention “the partners are professional.” Some note “the firm’s premises focus means cases involving complex motor vehicle liability may not be its strongest fit.” |
Edelman & Edelman, P.C., for Construction-Zone Pedestrian Injuries
For over 65 years, Edelman & Edelman has been a go-to firm for catastrophic injury cases in Manhattan, with particular depth in construction-related matters. The firm’s construction case portfolio includes a $35 million settlement for a worker hit by falling concrete, and the firm’s expertise transfers directly to pedestrian cases involving construction zones, scaffolding falls onto public sidewalks, and falling-object injuries from active job sites. The firm is well-suited for pedestrians injured in Manhattan’s active construction corridors.
Location: Manhattan (serves New York State)
Practice Areas: Construction accidents, scaffolding cases, crane accidents, premises liability, pedestrian injuries, wrongful death
Client Access: Partner-level case handling
Experience: Over 65 years of New York personal injury practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients describe the firm as “easy to get in touch with,” and mention “the partners have deep Labor Law experience that carries into pedestrian-in-construction-zone cases.” A few note “the firm is selective and may decline cases that fall outside its construction-related focus.” |
Simonson Goodman Platzer P.C., for Catastrophic Pedestrian Cases
For over 40 years, Simonson Goodman Platzer has maintained a Manhattan personal injury practice with significant recoveries in catastrophic injury and medical malpractice cases. Partners personally handle cases from start to finish, useful for pedestrian accident victims with life-changing injuries who want named-partner involvement rather than associate-level handling. The firm has documented eight-figure recoveries across catastrophic injury practice areas.
Location: Manhattan (serves all five boroughs)
Practice Areas: Catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, pedestrian accidents, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, wrongful death, brain and spinal injuries
Client Access: Partner-level case handling
Experience: Over 40 years of New York personal injury practice
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients describe the partners as “directly involved on serious cases,” and appreciate “the firm taking on cases other practices may pass on.” Some note “the firm is selective and may not be the right fit for less severe pedestrian injury claims.” |
Specialty Rankings
Best Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Manhattan for Turning-Vehicle Crosswalk Cases
| Rank | Firm | Why |
| 1 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | Eric Richman has secured a $1.5 million settlement for a pedestrian struck by a turning vehicle in a crosswalk, the single most common pedestrian-crash pattern in New York City, and a $1.1 million recovery for a pedestrian injured in a New York crosswalk collision. The firm handles these cases personally rather than routing them through a settlement-mill process. |
| 2 | Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore | A long-standing Manhattan trial firm with documented seven- and eight-figure recoveries in motor vehicle and pedestrian cases, including turning-vehicle intersection collisions. |
| 3 | Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo | A multi-generational Manhattan firm with substantial pedestrian collision recoveries and trial readiness in intersection collision cases. |
Best Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Manhattan for Sidewalk Defect Cases
| Rank | Firm | Why |
| 1 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | A boutique Manhattan practice that handles sidewalk defect cases against adjacent property owners under New York City Administrative Code §7-210, with the case-attention model that these document-intensive premises claims require. |
| 2 | Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. | A multi-decade Manhattan personal injury practice with experience in sidewalk, lobby, and building injury cases against property owners and management companies. |
| 3 | Belluck & Fox, LLP | A New York personal injury firm with experience in premises liability claims, including sidewalk injury cases against negligent property owners. |
Best Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Manhattan for Construction-Zone Pedestrian Injuries
| Rank | Firm | Why |
| 1 | Law Offices of Eric Richman | A boutique Manhattan practice with documented seven-figure recoveries in construction-related injury cases and direct attorney handling of cases arising at active job sites, including pedestrians struck or injured in construction zones. |
| 2 | Edelman & Edelman, P.C. | A 65-year Manhattan firm with documented eight-figure recoveries in construction injury cases, including pedestrians struck by falling objects from active job sites. |
| 3 | Simonson Goodman Platzer P.C. | A Manhattan firm with significant catastrophic injury recoveries and trial experience in construction-zone pedestrian cases. |
Why Manhattan Has a Distinct Pedestrian Accident Profile
Manhattan has the highest pedestrian fatality and injury rate of any borough in New York City. Three factors shape the case mix here.
The first is the turning-vehicle crash pattern. NYC DOT Vision Zero data consistently identifies turning vehicles in crosswalks as the dominant fatal and serious-injury pedestrian crash type, particularly at intersections in Midtown, the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, and Lower Manhattan. The second is the borough’s most dangerous intersections, which include corridors along Broadway, Canal Street, Houston Street, 14th Street, 23rd Street, 42nd Street, and 96th Street, where high traffic volume meets heavy pedestrian flow. The third is New York’s no-fault insurance framework. To recover for pain and suffering in a pedestrian case involving a motor vehicle, the injury must meet the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law §5102(d), which adds a layer of medical and legal proof distinct from cases in other states.
These factors make Manhattan pedestrian cases legally complex even when liability appears straightforward at the scene. Selecting an attorney with Manhattan trial experience, intersection investigation capability, and serious-injury threshold litigation depth materially affects outcomes.
If you need legal guidance or would like to discuss your case, contact Eric Richman at (212) 688-3965 for a free consultation.
FAQ
What is the time limit for filing a pedestrian accident claim in Manhattan?
In New York, the standard statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including pedestrian accident cases, is three years from the date of the accident. Claims against municipal entities, including the City of New York for roadway design or signal timing, require a notice of claim within 90 days and have a shorter overall window.
What is the “serious injury” threshold for pedestrian cases involving a motor vehicle?
New York is a no-fault insurance state. To recover for pain and suffering in a pedestrian case involving a motor vehicle, the injury must meet the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law §5102(d). The threshold includes categories such as significant disfigurement, fracture, permanent loss of use of a body organ or member, significant limitation of use, and 90 out of 180 days of substantial impairment.
Can I sue the property owner if I was injured on a Manhattan sidewalk?
Often, yes. New York City Administrative Code §7-210 places primary responsibility for sidewalk maintenance on the owner of the adjacent property, not the city. If a defective or unmaintained sidewalk caused your injury, the adjacent property owner may be liable. There are exceptions, including for one-, two-, and three-family residential properties that are owner-occupied.
What if the driver who hit me fled the scene?
In a hit-and-run case, recovery may still be possible through the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC), which provides compensation for victims of uninsured or unidentified motorists, subject to specific notice and filing requirements. If the driver is later identified, a direct claim against the driver’s insurance is also possible.
Does the Law Offices of Eric Richman take cases in Spanish?
The firm accepts Spanish-language intake. Spanish-language consultations are available.
Methodology
This report was produced through independent research conducted in May 2026. An independent research firm evaluated personal injury attorneys and law firms handling pedestrian accident cases in Manhattan, using publicly available data, firm websites, attorney biographies, state bar records, legal databases, court records, and publicly reported case results. Each firm was scored across five weighted criteria, with particular emphasis on documented pedestrian case results and Manhattan-venued case experience, given the focus of this report. Firms were required to have a verifiable Manhattan presence and demonstrable pedestrian case coverage. Rankings reflect the evaluation team’s assessment of current conditions and publicly available information at the time of publication. This ranking is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an endorsement. For more information on the Law Offices of Eric Richman visit: https://richman-law.com/.
