Some accidents begin with something as ordinary as crossing the street and end with a life turned upside down. Our client, a 62-year-old property transaction specialist working in New York City, was crossing 212th Street at its intersection with 42nd Avenue in Queens when a right-turning driver struck her, sending her to the ground and setting off a chain of injuries that would take months of treatment and surgery to address. Our attorneys from the Law Office of Seni Popat, P.C. recovered $330,000 on her behalf, but it was not a straightforward path to secure it.
A Crosswalk Collision with a Witness
Our client was following all the rules of the road when the driver turned into her. Police and ambulance responded to the scene, and an eyewitness was listed on the police report.
We hired a private investigator to locate the witness and secure a formal statement. That statement corroborated our client's account, establishing that she had the right of way and that the driver's failure to yield caused the collision. In pedestrian accident cases, where the driver and the injured party sometimes tell conflicting stories, an independent eyewitness statement can be decisive. Obtaining it before memories faded and before the opposing side had any opportunity to shape the narrative proved to be one of the most important steps we took in building this case.
Injuries That Went Far Beyond the Initial Hospital Visit
After the collision, our client was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where she was treated and released. Six days later, with symptoms persisting, she began formal treatment, and the true scope of her injuries came into focus.
Her diagnoses included:
- Traumatic brain injury with post-traumatic concussion and scalp hematoma
- Left shoulder tears requiring surgery
- A tear in her right wrist
- Multiple herniated discs in her neck and back
Initial emergency evaluations usually do not capture the full extent of injuries that develop in the days and weeks following an accident. It is a pattern our team has seen in countless cases, and it is why accepting any early settlement offer before the complete picture is known can be a big mistake for injured clients.
$330,000 Recovered Through Mediation
Following the accident, we filed a claim and served a Bill of Particulars documenting the full scope of our client's injuries and losses. After the preliminary conference and before depositions were conducted, both parties agreed to attend mediation, which is a structured negotiation facilitated by a neutral third party. When a case is built on strong evidence and thorough preparation, mediation is a strategic opportunity to reach a resolution that fairly reflects the client's losses without the time and uncertainty of a full trial, so we’re proud to say that it resulted in a settlement of $330,000. For a woman whose career, daily routine, and physical health were all affected by a driver's failure to yield at a crosswalk, this result represents accountability and a financial foundation for the years ahead.
if you or a loved one has been injured as a pedestrian in Queens, Nassau, Suffolk or anywhere in New York, the Law Office of Seni Popat, P.C. is ready to fight for the full compensation you deserve. Call us at (718) 340-3385 for a free consultation. We are available 24/7, so it is always a good time to talk to our team.
