216-658-5500Call Us Today
216-658-5500Call Us Today
If you have been hit by a vehicle while walking, you need lawyers who will stand up for you against the insurance companies. It is important that people who are injured as pedestrians are educated about their rights. An experienced Cleveland pedestrian accident lawyer can be an invaluable asset if you were recently hit by a driver and need help holding them accountable for the damages they caused.
216-658-5500 Call Us Today
If you were injured as a pedestrian, don’t leave the scene until the police have arrived, don’t talk to the driver of the vehicle who hit you, and don’t talk to an insurance agent until you have spoken with a lawyer. Rumizen Weisman Attorneys, has experience helping pedestrians who have been hit by cars. We have helped many past clients recover compensation for all types of accidents and can provide comprehensive legal support for your case.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,080 pedestrians died in traffic collisions nationwide in 2024, while another 71,635 suffered injuries. Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 18% of all traffic deaths that year. According to Cleveland’s traffic crash data, 55 pedestrian crashes resulted in serious injuries in 2024, while another 12 resulted in fatalities.
Pedestrian collisions are a tragic reality throughout Cleveland. In November 2025, one senior resident suffered a severe leg injury after two vehicles collided near Chester Avenue and East 30th Street in downtown Cleveland. According to police, one driver attempted a left turn, causing a collision that sent both vehicles off the roadway.
When investigating pedestrian accidents, we take the time to interview witnesses, review police reports, hire accident reconstruction engineers and gather all evidence so that we can present a strong case to the jury. While most assume that a driver is automatically at fault for an accident involving a pedestrian, it is still crucial to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer who can help you firmly establish liability for the accident and your resulting damages.
If you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run while walking or lost a loved one who was killed when hit by a car, call the Cleveland pedestrian accident attorneys at Rumizen Weisman Attorneys. Our firm has the experience and resources you need on your side to navigate your legal proceedings successfully, and we look forward to assisting you with your recovery.
All vehicle accidents in Ohio, including those involving pedestrians, are resolved based on fault. This means that before an injured accident victim can recover any compensation for their damages, they first need to identify the defendant who caused their accident, prove how the defendant caused it, and then prove the full extent of the resulting damages they suffered.
This may sound straightforward, but the victim of a pedestrian accident may have been injured severely enough that they have little to no recollection of the incident. They may not know who caused the accident, how they caused it, or what to do immediately following medical treatment for their injuries. You need to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer at your first opportunity to have the greatest chance of success with this case.
Your Cleveland pedestrian accident lawyer can gather the evidence needed to prove liability, including traffic camera footage, if available, testimony from eyewitnesses, and the police report from the accident. Once you have established liability for your accident, you can proceed with claiming compensation for your damages.
It’s important to remember that it is possible for a pedestrian to be found partially liable for this type of accident. For example, if they jaywalked in front of a driver who had little to no time to stop, the pedestrian could be held partially responsible for the resulting damages. Ohio follows the modified comparative fault rule, so it’s possible for the plaintiff to be found partially at fault and still recover compensation.
However, the plaintiff’s fault percentage will be deducted from their case award. Additionally, the plaintiff may recover compensation if their share of fault does not exceed 50%. If the plaintiff is found more at fault, they will be barred from claiming compensation. Your Cleveland pedestrian accident lawyer can determine whether comparative fault is a concern for your case and, if so, explain how it may impact your recovery.
Every driver in Ohio is required to have auto insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements for bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Once you prove fault for your accident, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier to seek compensation for your damages.
Unfortunately, insurance companies will almost always do everything they can to minimize claim payouts to accident victims. They will look for ways to justify denying or devaluing your claim, and when speaking with an insurance company representative, they are likely to look for any opportunity to use your own words against you in whatever way they can. It is crucial to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer before discussing your claim with an insurance carrier.
Your attorney can ensure you are treated fairly. If any disputes arise, your attorney can resolve them for you and minimize your need to interact with the insurance company directly. If you must file a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver, you are more likely to reach a favorable outcome with an experienced attorney’s help.
In a personal injury case, the injured plaintiff has the right to claim compensation for any economic losses they suffered. After a pedestrian accident, the injured plaintiff is likely to require expensive medical care, and they may be unable to work while they recover. They can claim compensation for their medical expenses and lost income, and they may also be eligible to claim compensation for lost earning capacity if they are permanently disabled by their injuries.
The plaintiff also has the right to claim compensation for physical pain, psychological trauma, and emotional suffering caused by the defendant’s negligence or misconduct. Hire a pedestrian accident lawyer with proven experience handling these cases to have the greatest chance of maximizing this aspect of your case award.
Whether you were injured while walking in Ohio City, Tremont, Old Brooklyn, or elsewhere in Cleveland, being partly responsible for a collision does not automatically mean that you are prevented from recovering compensation.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2315.33, Ohio follows a modified comparative fault rule, meaning injured pedestrians may pursue compensation as long as their percentage of fault does not exceed the combined fault of all other responsible parties. However, compensation is reduced by the injured person’s percentage of responsibility.
Crossing outside a marked crosswalk, for example, may not necessarily bar someone from pursuing compensation because drivers still have a duty to exercise reasonable care while on the road. If they strike a pedestrian, even outside of a crosswalk, they could still be partially liable for injuring someone.
Insurance companies may argue that a pedestrian contributed to the collision by jaywalking, ignoring traffic signals, or entering the roadway unexpectedly. These arguments can reduce the amount an insurer must pay or potentially eliminate liability.
When settlement negotiations fail, qualifying pedestrian injury claims may proceed through the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, depending on jurisdiction and venue requirements. Attorney Matthew Weisman, a third-generation Weisman personal injury attorney and former United States Marine Corps officer, brings his legal experience and leadership background to representing injured pedestrians.
His understanding of Ohio negligence laws can help clients challenge allegations of comparative fault and pursue compensation for their injuries.
Following a pedestrian collision in Cleveland, injured pedestrians may be transported to MetroHealth Medical Center or Cleveland Clinic’s main campus for emergency treatment. Depending on the severity of the injury, they may require surgery, physical rehab, and extensive ongoing care.
Pedestrians have little protection against the force of a moving vehicle. Even relatively low-speed collisions can cause serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal bleeding, and severe cuts or bruising. Some victims suffer permanent disabilities that affect their mobility, independence, and ability to work.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, injured pedestrians generally have two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury claim. However, the deadline for preserving valuable evidence is often much shorter. Waiting even a few weeks can make it difficult to establish what happened and who was responsible.
Traffic cameras and security cameras at nearby Cleveland businesses can capture the moments before and after a crash. Without prompt action, that footage could be overwritten within days. Witnesses may also forget critical details, including traffic signal timing and the actions of drivers immediately before the collision. Physical evidence can disappear when damaged vehicles are repaired.
When you work with the dedicated team of injury lawyers at Rumizen Weisman Attorneys, you gain steady support from a legal team that can quickly identify potential evidence and send preservation letters to the appropriate recipients. That swift action can preserve critical surveillance recordings, traffic camera footage, and other records.
Our firm’s case results include a $1 million wrongful death recovery involving a 19-year-old college student struck by an unlicensed driver. This result demonstrates the importance of thoroughly investigating fatal pedestrian accidents and identifying responsible parties. Past outcomes are not a guarantee of future results. Every case is different.
Do not assume that a driver who hits a pedestrian is automatically liable for the accident, and do not assume that you can handle your case alone. You are far more likely to reach a positive outcome and maximize your recovery with an experienced attorney representing you. After you have received medical treatment for your injuries, the first thing you should do is hire a pedestrian accident lawyer with proven experience handling cases like yours.
The team at Rumizen Weisman Attorneys can respond immediately to your request for legal counsel. We can immediately begin gathering the evidence you need to establish liability for the accident and calculate the total damages you are eligible to claim. Our goal for every injured client we represent is maximum compensation and to resolve their case as swiftly as possible.
You have a limited time to build and file your pedestrian accident claim in Cleveland. Some of the evidence you need to prove fault may only be obtainable for a short time, but you may not know how to secure it on your own. Hire a pedestrian accident lawyer you trust at your first opportunity, so they can begin building your case right away.
Call 216-304-2318 or contact us for more information and to schedule your free initial appointment. All cases are taken on a contingency basis, so you don’t pay a fee unless your case is resolved in your favor.
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