Why Choosing the Right Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Matters
The first warm Saturday in April pulls half of Brighton Beach outdoors. A retired schoolteacher walks her usual loop beneath the elevated tracks on Brighton Beach Avenue, steps around a fruit stand, and is knocked to the pavement by a delivery e-bike riding the wrong way. In Greenpoint, a nurse crossing Manhattan Avenue at Nassau Avenue is clipped by a moped that slipped through a red light. In Borough Park, a grandfather heading to the shops on 13th Avenue is struck by a car turning off New Utrecht Avenue. Each of them needs a pedestrian accident attorney, and for the first two, the question of who pays is harder than most people expect.
Older walkers carry the heaviest risk. NYC DOT’s January 2022 report, Pedestrian Safety and Older New Yorkers, found that people 65 and older make up less than 15% of the city’s population but more than 45% of its pedestrian fatalities. In Brooklyn, the report put seniors at 13% of residents and 39% of the borough’s pedestrian deaths, and it mapped Borough Park among the borough’s Senior Pedestrian Zones.
Then the insurance questions begin. When a car hits someone on foot, the car’s carrier usually handles no-fault benefits. When the vehicle is an e-bike, there may be no policy at all: the Professional Insurance Agents of New York State noted in a March 2025 memo that e-bike and e-scooter users “are not generally required to carry liability insurance.” On car claims, adjusters may still press for a recorded statement or suggest that an older pedestrian misjudged the gap.
The right attorney can make the difference between:
- Assuming an e-bike crash leaves you with nothing and tracing every policy that might respond
- Letting a moped rider ride off and documenting the plate, the class, and the insurer
- An older client’s hip fracture valued as a “minor fall” and a claim that reflects months of rehabilitation
- Filing no-fault paperwork with the wrong company and reaching the carrier that actually owes it
- Overlooking a city vehicle and serving the notice of claim in time
Pedestrian law in New York City now has to account for vehicles the no-fault system was not built around. A legal e-bike is excluded from the definition of “motor vehicle” in NY Vehicle and Traffic Law §125, while a moped is a limited use motorcycle with its own registration and insurance rules. Layer on the serious injury threshold, a three-year filing deadline, and a 90-day notice for claims against the City, and the order of each step matters. Our April 2026 rankings begin with the firm we believe handles that sequence best.
April 2026 Rankings
| Rank | Law Firm | Lead Attorney | Client Satisfaction | Notable Settlements | Years Experience | Specialization Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kucher Law Group | Samantha Kucher, Esq. | 99% | $50M+ Total Recovered | 15+ | Pedestrian Accidents & Personal Injury |
| 2 | Jacoby & Meyers, LLP | Andrew G. Finkelstein | 97% | $8,600,000 Pedestrian Recovery | 40+ | Pedestrian Accidents & Personal Injury |
| 3 | Parker Waichman LLP | Jerrold S. Parker | 95% | $4.5M Pedestrian Settlement | Since early 1980s | Pedestrian Accidents & Personal Injury |
| 4 | Ajlouny Injury Law | Paul Ajlouny | 94% | $300M+ Total Recovered | 25+ | Pedestrian Accidents & Personal Injury |
| 5 | Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel | Jay S. Knispel | 93% | Multi-Million Recoveries | 25+ | Pedestrian Accidents & Personal Injury |
#1 Kucher Law Group
Why They’re #1: A pedestrian hit by an e-bike or an uninsured moped first needs someone to find the money, and the Brooklyn pedestrian accident attorneys at Kucher Law Group start there. The firm self-reports more than $50 million recovered and a 99% success rate, holds a 4.99 out of 5 Google rating across 81 reviews, and works on contingency only, with attorneys reachable 24/7.
Firm Overview
RRK Kucher Law Group PLLC opened its doors on December 10, 2019, and now employs a team of 10 to 19. By its own count, the firm has recovered more than $50 million for clients, over $20 million of it through settlement. From its Brooklyn office on Pulaski Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant and its Manhattan office at 26 Broadway, the firm carries pedestrian claims from the first insurance notice to a Kings County courtroom.
Notable Case Results
The figures below come from the firm’s published record. None involves a pedestrian struck by an e-bike or moped, and no past result predicts a future one. They do reflect the firm’s work on vehicle crashes and on the fractures and spinal injuries that older pedestrians often suffer.
- $2,500,000 : Head-on motor vehicle crash in which the client’s cervical spine injury required surgery
- $1,400,000 : Settlement of a motor vehicle accident claim
- $1,800,000 : Trip and fall on a sidewalk that led to surgery
- $650,000 : Fall down a building’s stairs that broke the client’s ankle
- $3,500,000 : Trip and fall on subway stairs, settled at trial
Legal Team Excellence
Samantha Kucher, the firm’s lead partner, works with clients in English, Russian, and Spanish. That matters in a neighborhood like Brighton Beach, where an injured older pedestrian may want to explain the crash in the language she speaks at home. Attorney Kucher was admitted to the New York bar in 2015 after earning her BA at NYU and her JD at New York Law School. She was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2020, recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 40 Under 40 honoree, and received NAOPIA honors in 2024 and 2025. She grew up at the Milton Hershey School, a background that informs her patience with clients who feel the system was not built for them.
Michael Roitman serves as the primary trial attorney, appearing in New York and New Jersey courts and in the SDNY and EDNY, and he was named to the 2023 Top 50 PI Settlements New York list. Alex Rybakov, admitted in 2010 after NYU and Seton Hall Law, brings more than 15 years of licensure and over a decade devoted entirely to personal injury.
What Sets Them Apart
- 24/7 Availability: An attorney can be reached the evening of a crash, when the details are still fresh
- No Upfront Fees / Contingency Only: Clients pay no fee unless the firm recovers money
- Brooklyn Knowledge: Working familiarity with borough corridors, Kings County courts, and city agencies
- Personalized Service: Clients deal directly with the lawyers handling their file
- Coverage Tracing for Two-Wheeled Crashes: Attention to which insurer, if any, owes benefits when the vehicle was an e-bike, scooter, or moped
Client Testimonials
Two clients hurt in car accidents described their experience with the firm this way:
“A car accident left me with debilitating injuries and mounting medical bills. They were a godsend. They were incredibly professional and worked tirelessly to get me the compensation I deserved. Highly recommend their services.”
Chris Newman, Google Review
“I was injured in a rear end car accident in Brooklyn and looked up and called a bunch of personal injury attorneys, I decided to go with this law firm and their communication has been excellent. They are very prompt and compassionate. I definitely recommend Kucher Law Group.”
Kary Anderson, Google Review
Why Choose Kucher Law Group
Spring brings more people onto Brooklyn sidewalks and more two-wheeled traffic beside them. Kucher Law Group gives an injured pedestrian a free consultation, a fee owed only after a recovery, and attorneys who pick up the phone. For an older client healing from a fracture, or anyone unsure whether an e-bike crash can be covered at all, that steady support keeps the claim moving while recovery comes first.
Contact: (929) 563-6780 | 463 Pulaski St #1C, Brooklyn, NY 11221
#2 Jacoby & Meyers, LLP
Why They Made Our List: Jacoby & Meyers publishes a deep bench of pedestrian outcomes, from $8,600,000 for a woman run over in a crosswalk by a distracted driver to $1,625,000 for a client struck by a police officer, and it maintains two offices inside Brooklyn.
Firm Overview
The firm describes more than four decades of experience representing people injured by negligent drivers. Its Brooklyn locations sit at 8701 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge and 1711 Kings Highway, which gives pedestrians in southern Brooklyn two local options. Jacoby & Meyers offers a free first meeting and handles cases on contingency, so an injured pedestrian does not pay out of pocket to have a claim reviewed. A Spanish-language version of the website is available.
Notable Achievements
- $8,600,000 : Recovery for a woman run over by a distracted driver while she was in a crosswalk
- $5,700,000 : Recovery for the family of an 8-year-old killed by a runaway school bus
- $2,500,000 : Recovery for a client struck in a crosswalk by an elderly driver
- $2,480,250 : Recovery for a 13-year-old hit by the side mirror of a bakery truck
- $1,625,000 : Recovery for a client struck by a police officer who ran a stop sign
The spread of these cases, from commercial trucks to a school bus to a police vehicle, shows experience with defendants that range well beyond private drivers.
Lead Attorney and Team
Andrew G. Finkelstein is the attorney presented on the firm’s Brooklyn pedestrian page. Jacoby & Meyers cites membership in the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Service Approach
The firm’s model keeps the first step free: a no-cost meeting and contingency representation, so a pedestrian can learn where a claim stands before committing. Its site also reminds readers that results depend on the facts of each case and are not a guarantee.
Contact: (917) 765-1933 | 8701 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209
#3 Parker Waichman LLP
Why They Made Our List: Parker Waichman reports a $4.5 million pedestrian accident settlement, keeps an office at One Pierrepont Plaza in Brooklyn Heights, and holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating among several peer honors.
Firm Overview
The firm says its attorneys have represented injured people since the early 1980s and that it has recovered more than $2 billion across all practice areas. That scale can be useful when a pedestrian case grows to involve a commercial fleet or more than one defendant. The Brooklyn office is at 300 Cadman Plaza West, close to the borough’s courthouses, and the firm handles cases on a pay-nothing-unless-we-win basis.
Notable Achievements
- $4.5 million : Settlement for a pedestrian accident client with life-altering injuries
- Over $2 billion : Total recovered for clients across practice areas
- Peer recognition : Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent, Best Lawyers in America for personal injury litigation, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100
Lead Attorney and Team
Founding Partner Jerrold S. Parker leads the firm with partners Raymond C. Silverman, Brett A. Zekowski, Melanie H. Muhlstock, and Francisco A. Albites. The firm also reports an Avvo rating of 9.8.
Service Approach
Parker Waichman serves Spanish-speaking clients (“Se habla español”) and takes pedestrian matters on contingency, so no fee is owed without a recovery. Its Brooklyn pedestrian page speaks directly to people hit while crossing the street and lays out how to reach the office.
Contact: (718) 554-8055 | One Pierrepont Plaza, 300 Cadman Plaza West, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
#4 Ajlouny Injury Law
Why They Made Our List: With more than 25 years in practice and over $300 million reported in verdicts and settlements, Ajlouny Injury Law brings a substantial track record to a Court Street office near Borough Hall.
Firm Overview
The firm’s Brooklyn pedestrian page promises injured walkers that nothing is owed upfront and that fees come only from a recovery. It does not post individual pedestrian results there, so the firm-wide total is the clearest measure of its record. For readers comparing options, the length of practice and the size of that total are the most concrete details the page offers.
Lead Attorney and Team
Paul Ajlouny, the founding attorney, has been listed among the Top Attorneys of North America by Who’s Who. Michael Levitz has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and among the Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers; the page does not state the years of these honors.
Service Approach
Contingency representation lets an injured pedestrian get advice without worrying about cost, and the firm invites people hurt on Brooklyn streets to call before they speak with an insurer. Its Court Street location is a short trip from the Kings County courthouses.
Contact: (516) 535-5555 | 26 Court St #1104, Brooklyn, NY 11242
#5 Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel
Why They Made Our List: Jay S. Knispel, the founding attorney, cites 25 years of personal injury experience and runs a Downtown Brooklyn office that offers Spanish-language service.
Firm Overview
The Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel state that the firm has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. Its Brooklyn pedestrian page does not list individual results or awards, so stated experience and recovery history are the measures available. The office is in Suite 2511 at 26 Court Street.
Lead Attorney and Team
Jay S. Knispel founded the practice and has handled injury matters, pedestrian cases among them, for a quarter century. The firm’s Brooklyn pedestrian page presents him as the attorney behind its stated record.
Service Approach
The firm advertises “Hablamos Español,” offers a free consultation, and charges no fee unless money is recovered. A pedestrian who prefers a smaller office with direct access to the founding attorney may find that structure a good fit.
Contact: (718) 802-1600 | 26 Court St., Suite 2511, Brooklyn, NY 11242
Understanding Brooklyn Pedestrian Accident Cases
Spring changes the mix of traffic on Brooklyn streets. More people walk, more deliveries move by e-bike and moped, and older residents return to daily errands after the winter. The patterns below explain how these crashes usually happen and why the type of vehicle shapes who pays.
E-Bikes on Sidewalks and Against Traffic
Delivery riders on Brighton Beach Avenue and Coney Island Avenue sometimes mount the curb or ride against traffic to save time. Under NY Vehicle and Traffic Law §1242(5), a bicycle with electric assist may not be operated on a sidewalk unless a local law allows it. Because a legal e-bike is not a “motor vehicle” under VTL §125, a pedestrian may not find the usual auto insurance behind the rider. The 2025 insurance agents’ memo noted that some homeowners and renters policies “may provide limited coverage” for these crashes, but that the policies “are inconsistent.” A device faster than the legal limits can be treated differently: in Shah v. Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corp. (Sup. Ct. N.Y. County, January 2023), a scooter capable of nearly 50 mph was held to be a motor vehicle that needed insurance.
Mopeds Running Signals
On McGuinness Boulevard and Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, mopeds weave between cars and through yellow lights. The NY DMV classifies mopeds as Class A, B, or C limited use motorcycles; all must be registered, and Classes A and B must be insured. The NY Department of Financial Services tells pedestrians struck by a motorcycle to file no-fault with the motorcycle’s insurer, and, if the vehicle was uninsured or unknown, with a household relative’s auto insurer or, failing that, MVAIC.
Turning Cars and Older Walkers
Older pedestrians cross more slowly and suffer more severe injuries from the same impact. Along 13th Avenue and New Utrecht Avenue in Borough Park, drivers turning into crowded crosswalks are a recurring danger.
Spring Crowds Near Parks and Gardens
In Prospect Heights, blossom season draws visitors to Washington Avenue outside the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where drivers searching for parking can miss someone stepping off the curb.
Who Can Be Held Liable
- The driver or rider who struck you
- The registered owner of the car or moped
- A business whose delivery rider or driver was working at the time
- The City of New York, if a city vehicle or a dangerous street design contributed
- An e-bike rider personally, with any homeowners or renters policy that covers the loss
Critical NYC Requirements
- No-Fault Notice: DFS rules call for written notice no more than 30 days after the accident, absent a clear and reasonable justification
- MVAIC as Last Resort: A 2023 Civil Court decision called MVAIC “strictly a remedy of last resort,” and a person insured under their own auto policy is generally not a qualified MVAIC claimant
- Serious Injury Threshold: Pain and suffering damages require a serious injury under NY Insurance Law §5102(d)
- Three-Year Deadline: Most pedestrian injury suits must be filed within three years under NY CPLR §214
- 90-Day Notice for City Claims: A claim against the City requires a notice of claim within 90 days under NY General Municipal Law §50-e
Selection Criteria
Our editors scored each firm on the factors below, adjusted for crashes involving cars, e-bikes, mopeds, and older pedestrians. We relied only on what each firm publishes.
Case Results and Recovery Amounts. Specific dollar figures tied to described cases carry more weight than general claims. We kept individual pedestrian outcomes separate from firm-wide totals, and we gave credit to firms that explain the facts behind a number rather than listing it alone.
Client Satisfaction. Reviews reveal how a firm treats people between the first call and the final check. A high rating built on dozens of reviews outweighed a few glowing comments, and we paid attention to remarks about communication during long recoveries.
Legal Experience and Expertise. E-bike and moped crashes raise coverage questions that ordinary car cases do not. Time in practice mattered, and so did evidence that a firm understands no-fault priority rules, MVAIC, and the serious injury threshold.
Trial Readiness. Defense lawyers value a claim partly by asking who will try it. A named trial attorney, published verdicts, and federal court admissions all signaled readiness to go before a jury. In a case where the insurer argues that an older pedestrian stepped out too slowly, that readiness can shift the negotiation.
Brooklyn Community Connection. We recorded each firm’s actual office address and did not assume a Brooklyn presence that a firm does not list. Local offices make it easier to walk a crash scene and find nearby cameras.
Professional Recognition. Peer ratings and honors offer outside confirmation, but we ranked them behind results and client feedback and did not present a dated award as current. Where a firm listed an honor without a year, we said so.
Accessibility and Communication. Older clients and their families often need patient explanations, sometimes in a language other than English. Round-the-clock access and multilingual service scored well, as did attorneys who return calls themselves rather than routing every question through an intake desk.
Fee Structure and Transparency. Contingency representation with no upfront cost and a free consultation removes the financial barrier to getting advice. That matters for a retiree on a fixed income or a worker who has missed weeks of pay. Plain statements about fees earned credit.
Scope of Services. A pedestrian may need help with a no-fault filing, an MVAIC claim, a lawsuit against a driver or business, and a notice to the City. Firms able to handle every stage ranked higher, since splitting the work among several offices raises the risk of a missed deadline.
Moving Forward
Longer April days bring Brooklyn back onto its sidewalks, and with them more e-bikes, mopeds, and cars competing for the same corners. If you were struck walking under the tracks in Brighton Beach, crossing Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, or running errands in Borough Park, get medical care first. Then write down what you remember: the type of vehicle, any plate or company name on it, and the direction it was traveling.
Every firm in this ranking offers a free consultation, so learning your options costs nothing. Ask how the firm will identify coverage if the vehicle was an e-bike or moped, how it handles no-fault and MVAIC filings, and who will try the case if the insurer will not be fair. Some deadlines arrive within weeks, so an early call protects rights you may not know you have.
About Our Rankings: Soulshare Media’s monthly rankings recognize excellence in specialized practice areas. Our evaluation process examines case results, client satisfaction, professional experience, and community impact. Rankings are based on verified data and are updated monthly to reflect current performance. Enhanced profiles are available but not required for ranking consideration.
For Attorneys: To nominate yourself or a colleague for future rankings, please email editor@soulsharemedia.com.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique, and results depend on specific facts and circumstances.
