Harrisburg Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Helping Plaintiffs Recover from Pedestrian Accidents in Harrisburg

Being hit by a driver can leave you with life‑changing injuries. What makes it worse: most pedestrian crashes are preventable and often caused by motorists who were distracted, speeding, or ignoring signals. Drivers sit in a steel shell; pedestrians take the full impact.

A large share of Harrisburg pedestrian crashes happen around busy corridors like Market Street and the Capitol Complex, where heavy foot traffic meets fast, turning vehicles. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that an increasing number of pedestrian accidents involve distracted driving, underscoring the importance of incorporating digital distraction awareness into safety campaigns. Understanding where and how these collisions happen helps a Harrisburg pedestrian accident attorney build context, prove fault, and pursue full compensation.

If you or a loved one were struck while walking, you may be owed compensation for medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Whether the driver was distracted, reckless, or otherwise negligent, Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC has spent more than a century holding at‑fault parties accountable. Our Harrisburg pedestrian accident lawyers focus on your recovery while we handle the legal fight.

More than 40,000 Pennsylvanians helped. Find out how we can help with your claim: call (717) 775-7514.

Statute of Limitations for Pedestrian Accidents in Harrisburg

In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the crash date to file a pedestrian injury lawsuit. Waiting makes claims harder: evidence goes stale and witnesses forget details. Insurers know that the less time claimants have, the more pressure they can exert.

Starting early strengthens your case and helps you meet Pennsylvania's procedural rules. A Harrisburg pedestrian accident lawyer can secure video, interview witnesses, and coordinate with your doctors so damages are fully documented. Thorough scene documentation and medical records are often the difference between a low offer and a fair recovery.

Understanding Comparative Negligence in Pedestrian Accidents

Pennsylvania uses modified comparative negligence. If you're 50% or less at fault, you can still seek recovery, though it will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you're assigned 51% or more, you are barred from recovering at all. Because fault isn't fixed--it's assigned in court--defendants and insurers will often work to shift as much blame onto you as possible. Without an advocate, that blame could cross the threshold that prevents recovery altogether.

Situations where a pedestrian could share fault include:

• Crossing diagonally when crosswalks and signals were available.
• Walking in the roadway when a sidewalk or shoulder was available.
• Entering a crosswalk against a "Don't Walk" signal.

A Harrisburg pedestrian accident attorney can counter these tactics by gathering evidence that keeps blame where it belongs and protects your right to a fair recovery.

What If the Driver Fled the Scene?

Hit-and-run pedestrian accidents present unique challenges, but you still have options. If the driver who hit you fled and wasn't identified, you may be able to seek recovery through your own uninsured motorist coverage, which is part of your auto insurance policy. This typically involves notifying your insurer, submitting evidence of the crash, and working through their claims process--much like you would if the driver had been found and insured. Your lawyer can handle this process to help ensure the insurer honors your policy and pays the recovery you're entitled to.

Meanwhile, a pedestrian accident attorney in Harrisburg can conduct a thorough investigation using police reports, witness statements, nearby surveillance footage, and traffic camera data to try to locate the driver. This process may include visiting the crash scene, working with law enforcement to follow leads, and issuing subpoenas for relevant video or phone records. If the driver is found, your lawyer can then pursue a direct claim against them or their insurer, potentially opening the door to a fuller recovery than uninsured motorist coverage alone could provide.

Even without finding whoever hit you, your lawyer can help file and negotiate a claim with your insurer to cover medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. Acting quickly is critical--evidence in hit-and-run cases can disappear within days.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Harrisburg

Pedestrian accidents in Harrisburg happen for many reasons, from distracted driving to poor road design, and each cause can play a role in how fault is assigned. Understanding these common factors not only points to ways the crash could have been prevented, it also gives your lawyer the evidence they need to push back when an insurer or defendant tries to pin blame on you and reduce your recovery.

Pedestrian accidents in Harrisburg can stem from a variety of causes, many of which are preventable:

• Distracted driving (texting, GPS/app use)
• Failure to yield on turns at signalized intersections
• Speeding and aggressive driving
• Poor visibility (night, rain, glare) and inadequate lighting
• Impaired driving

Busy areas near Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and downtown corridors combine heavy foot traffic with turning movements and limited sight lines. Targeted safety steps--lower speeds, better lighting, and clear crosswalks--reduce risk, but until every driver makes better choices, pedestrians remain vulnerable. Traffic studies have suggested that reducing speed limits in these zones can significantly mitigate crashes, showing how community-led changes like better lighting or safer crosswalks can make a real difference in keeping pedestrians safe.

Safety Tips for Harrisburg Pedestrians

Staying safe as a pedestrian in Harrisburg involves being proactive and aware:

• Use marked crosswalks and follow signals.
• Make eye contact with turning drivers before stepping out.
• Put the phone away while crossing; keep your head up and ears open.
• Wear bright or reflective gear at night and in bad weather.
• Know local rules and campaigns aimed at pedestrian safety.

Common Injuries from Pedestrian Accidents—and Their Long-Term Impact

When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, the injuries are often severe because there is no physical protection between the body and the impact. These injuries are not only painful and debilitating—they also come with high and ongoing costs. Victims may face years of medical bills, from follow-up appointments and physical therapy to adaptive equipment and home modifications. There’s also the financial strain of lost income and reduced earning potential. Without skilled legal representation, insurance companies may push for settlements that fall far short of covering these lifelong needs.

According to research published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine:

• Head trauma: Concussions or traumatic brain injuries can cause lasting cognitive, emotional, and physical effects.
• Fractures: These pedestrian injuries are common in the lower limbs. Breaks in the legs, hips, or pelvis often require surgery and extended rehabilitation.
• Spinal injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can lead to partial or complete paralysis.
• Internal organ damage: Internal injuries may necessitate multiple surgeries and long-term medical care.

A dedicated Harrisburg pedestrian accident lawyer fights to ensure your claim accounts for the full scope of your losses—not just immediate medical expenses, but the resources you’ll need to safeguard your long-term financial security and quality of life. By building a strong case and advocating on your behalf, your attorney helps protect your future while you focus on recovery.

Why Contact Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Harrisburg?

A lawyer's job is simple: protect your rights and prove your losses. A Harrisburg pedestrian accident attorney will investigate the scene, secure video and data, work with reconstruction and medical experts, and deal with insurers so you can focus on healing.

Compensation may include:

• Medical costs (past and future)
• Lost income and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering and loss of life's pleasures

Beyond the numbers, your attorney coordinates with your healthcare providers so treatment and prognosis are fully documented. Local knowledge of Dauphin County courts and insurers helps us move your claim efficiently and push for the result you deserve.

At Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC, we've been fighting for injured Pennsylvanians since 1922, securing life-changing recoveries for thousands of clients. We're here day and night, ready to stand up for you--and you owe nothing unless we win your case.

No fee unless we win. Call (717) 775-7514 or request a free consultation via our quick message form.