Pedestrian Accident Injuries on Long Island
Being struck by a motor vehicle as a pedestrian can cause injuries that range from visible wounds to problems that surface hours or days later. Injury Recovery MD provides prompt medical evaluation and coordinated treatment for pedestrians hurt in traffic collisions across Nassau and Suffolk County, and can bill New York No-Fault directly for eligible visits.
New York No-Fault · Workers’ Compensation · Most major insurance
Not sure if your injury is covered? Ask us first.
Our team verifies your coverage, explains what it pays for, and books your first evaluation at the Long Island location closest to you.
- $0 out of pocket for covered patients
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Common injuries when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle
Because a person on foot has no protection from the impact of a car, truck, or bus, pedestrian collisions can produce a wide range of injuries. Some are obvious at the scene; others become apparent only after the initial adrenaline fades. Injuries our providers commonly evaluate include:
Being struck by a bus concentrates far more mass into the same impact, so the injury pattern skews toward the pelvis, chest and head even at low speed.
The pattern shifts when the person struck is on a bicycle: the bike absorbs part of the impact, and the rider tends to land on an outstretched hand, a shoulder, or the side of the head.
- Head injuries, including concussion and other traumatic brain injury
- Neck injuries and whiplash-type strains from the sudden force of impact
- Back and spine injuries, including disc and soft-tissue damage
- Fractures of the legs, hips, pelvis, arms, and ribs
- Knee, shoulder, and joint injuries
- Cuts, bruising, and road-rash abrasions
- Nerve injuries that may cause numbness, tingling, or weakness
Even when you feel you can walk away, a medical evaluation helps identify injuries that are not immediately visible.
Why symptoms can be delayed
It is common for pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, or difficulty concentrating to appear in the hours or days following a collision rather than right away. This does not mean an injury is minor. Delayed symptoms can point to soft-tissue damage, a concussion, or nerve involvement that benefits from earlier assessment.
Prompt evaluation also creates a clear medical record of your condition close to the date of the incident, which is the documentation insurers and, where applicable, attorneys typically request.
How New York No-Fault can apply to pedestrians
New York No-Fault (PIP) coverage generally extends beyond people inside a car. A pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle is often covered under No-Fault, even though they were on foot at the time. Which policy pays can depend on the specifics of the situation:
- In many cases, coverage is provided through the insurance policy of the vehicle that struck the pedestrian.
- If the pedestrian has their own auto insurance or lives in a household with an insured vehicle, that policy may come into play.
- If the striking vehicle is uninsured, unidentified, or fled the scene, a claim may be handled through MVAIC (the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation), which exists to help eligible people injured by uninsured or unknown drivers.
Because the correct source of coverage depends on details of the incident and the policies involved, it is best to confirm your specific situation with the relevant insurer or an attorney. Our team can also help identify which No-Fault information is needed and prepare the required medical documentation. Learn more about how billing works on our No-Fault injury care page.
Act within New York's deadlines
New York No-Fault has strict time limits. A No-Fault application generally must be filed with the insurer within 30 days of the incident, and treatment records must be submitted on schedule. Missing these deadlines can jeopardize benefits, so it helps to seek care and start the paperwork promptly. See our overview of the No-Fault 30-day deadline and what to do after a crash in New York.
Coordinated evaluation and treatment in one place
Injury Recovery MD offers same-day and next-day appointments so pedestrians can be evaluated quickly. Our multi-specialty team coordinates physical therapy, pain management, chiropractic, and orthopedic care within a single plan, and can arrange diagnostic imaging and EMG nerve testing when clinically appropriate.
We bill New York No-Fault or Workers’ Compensation directly, so eligible visits are $0 out of pocket, and we provide the documentation insurers and attorneys require. With offices across Long Island, care is available close to home. Call (631) 560-8357 to schedule an evaluation, or learn more about our car accident injury care.
Frequently asked questions
I was hit by a car while walking. Does No-Fault cover me even though I wasn't in a vehicle?
In New York, No-Fault (PIP) coverage generally extends to pedestrians struck by a motor vehicle, not just to people riding inside a car. Which policy applies depends on the details of the incident, so it is best to confirm your specific situation with the insurer or an attorney. Our team can help gather the No-Fault information needed to get started.
What if the driver who hit me was uninsured or fled the scene?
When the striking vehicle is uninsured, unidentified, or left the scene, a claim may be handled through MVAIC, the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation, which helps eligible people injured by uninsured or unknown drivers. Eligibility depends on the circumstances, so confirming details with an attorney or the relevant authority is a good idea. We can still evaluate and document your injuries in the meantime.
I feel okay after being struck. Do I still need to be seen?
It is common for pain, headaches, dizziness, or stiffness to appear hours or days after a collision. A prompt evaluation helps identify injuries that are not immediately visible and creates a medical record close to the date of the incident. Same-day and next-day appointments are available.
How soon do I need to file for No-Fault benefits?
New York No-Fault generally requires that an application be filed with the insurer within 30 days of the incident. Because deadlines are strict, it helps to seek care and begin the paperwork promptly. Our staff can help prepare the documentation insurers require.
How much will treatment cost me?
Injury Recovery MD bills New York No-Fault or Workers’ Compensation directly, so eligible visits are $0 out of pocket. Coverage depends on your eligibility and the applicable policy, which we can help you confirm.
Medically reviewed by Sylvera Ann Voskamp, DPT, of Injury Recovery MD · Last reviewed 2026-07-08 · View our medical team
Educational information only; not a substitute for medical advice.
Pelvic injuries in pedestrian crashes
A pedestrian struck side-on takes the impact through the pelvis, which is why pelvic ring injuries are one of the defining injuries of these crashes. See broken pelvis recovery and rehab, and broken upper arm for the arm injuries that come from the same fall.