If you were hit by a car while walking in Baltimore, a Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyer can help you understand whether you may have a claim, even if you were not in a marked crosswalk.
Maryland law requires drivers to use reasonable care around pedestrians, but crossing location, traffic signals, visibility, and each party’s conduct all affect liability.
Maryland’s contributory negligence rule makes pedestrian accident claims difficult. If an insurance company proves the pedestrian was even partly at fault, compensation may be barred.
Prompt investigation can help preserve traffic camera footage, witness accounts, and other key evidence.
Furman Honick Law represents injured pedestrians in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and throughout Maryland. Call (410) 844-6000 to speak with a Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyer about your situation.
How Does Furman Honick Law Handle Baltimore Pedestrian Injury Cases?
Our firm builds pedestrian accident claims around one central question: whose negligence actually caused the crash. Allen Honick and Dustin Furman handle every pedestrian case directly, from initial evidence review through trial if the insurer refuses a fair settlement.
We have recovered more than $80 million for injured clients across Maryland, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
What Types of Baltimore Pedestrian Cases Do We Handle?
Our attorneys represent pedestrians injured in a wide range of crash scenarios across Baltimore, and each type requires different evidence and different legal strategies:
- Crosswalk collisions where drivers fail to yield at marked or unmarked intersections throughout downtown Baltimore
- Mid-block crashes on wide arterials like North Avenue, Edmondson Avenue, and Belair Road where safe crossings are too far apart
- Hit-and-run cases that require uninsured motorist (UM) claims through the pedestrian's own auto policy or household coverage
- Crashes near Johns Hopkins Homewood campus, University of Maryland Baltimore, and other high-foot-traffic areas
- Backing accidents in parking lots, gas stations, and residential driveways where drivers fail to check behind their vehicles
Each crash type generates different insurance arguments about fault, and a Baltimore pedestrian injury attorney who has handled these cases before knows which defenses to expect.
Allen Honick earned recognition on the Maryland Daily Record's Law Power List, and both attorneys hold Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch designations. Past case outcomes depend on individual facts.
Does Contributory Negligence Apply to Pedestrian Accidents in Maryland?
Maryland is one of only a few states that still follows pure contributory negligence, meaning even 1% of fault attributed to the pedestrian may eliminate the entire claim.
Insurance adjusters handling Baltimore pedestrian claims build their defense around the pedestrian's own conduct rather than the driver's negligence. Common fault arguments include:
- Crossing the street outside of a marked crosswalk, even where no crosswalk exists within a reasonable distance
- Looking at a phone or wearing headphones while crossing, which the adjuster frames as distracted walking
- Stepping into the roadway against a Don't Walk signal, even when the driver was also violating traffic laws
- Wearing dark clothing at night in areas with poor street lighting
These arguments often rely on assumptions rather than hard evidence of actual negligence.
A pedestrian accident lawyer in Baltimore who has seen these defenses before knows how to challenge each one with surveillance footage, signal timing data, and witness testimony.
Does the Last Clear Chance Doctrine Help Pedestrians?
The last clear chance doctrine may allow an injured pedestrian to recover compensation even when they were partly at fault.
Maryland courts apply this doctrine when the driver had a final opportunity to avoid hitting the pedestrian but failed to take it.
Beyond last clear chance, recognized exceptions to contributory negligence in pedestrian cases remain narrow and fact-dependent.
Does Jaywalking Prevent a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Maryland?
Jaywalking does not automatically prevent a pedestrian from filing an injury claim in Maryland. Under Md. Code, Transp. § 21-502, pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to vehicles when crossing outside of a crosswalk, but drivers still owe a duty of care to avoid hitting pedestrians regardless of location.
Many Baltimore streets lack marked crosswalks for blocks at a time, and Maryland law recognizes unmarked crosswalks at most intersections.
Md. Code, Transp. § 21-101 defines a crosswalk to include the area between imaginary extensions of sidewalk lines at any intersection, regardless of paint markings.
Insurance adjusters take advantage of pedestrian confusion about this rule by arguing fault for crossing outside a crosswalk when in fact the pedestrian used a legally recognized unmarked crossing.
How Does Crossing Location Affect Liability?
| Crossing Scenario | Pedestrian Right-of-Way | Driver Duty | Contributory Negligence Risk |
| Marked crosswalk with walk signal | Pedestrian has right-of-way | Driver must yield | Low |
| Marked crosswalk against signal | Driver may have right-of-way | Driver must still exercise reasonable care | Moderate to high |
| Unmarked crosswalk at intersection | Pedestrian may have right-of-way | Driver must yield if pedestrian is already crossing | Low to moderate |
| Mid-block crossing | Vehicle has right-of-way | Driver must still avoid hitting pedestrian if possible | High, but claim may still be viable |
Crossing location affects the strength of a pedestrian claim, but it rarely eliminates the claim entirely when the driver was also negligent. Call (410) 844-6000 to discuss how your specific crossing location may affect your Baltimore pedestrian accident claim.
What Injuries Do Baltimore Pedestrian Accidents Cause?
Pedestrian accidents produce some of the most severe injuries in personal injury law because the human body has no protection against a moving vehicle.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirms that pedestrians account for a disproportionate share of traffic fatalities nationally, and Baltimore's wide, high-speed arterials contribute to that pattern locally.
Common Pedestrian Crash Injuries in Baltimore
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from head impact with the vehicle hood, windshield, or pavement
- Spinal cord damage that may cause partial or complete paralysis
- Compound leg and pelvis fractures caused by direct bumper contact, often requiring multiple surgeries
- Internal organ damage from blunt force trauma to the chest or abdomen
- Severe road rash and degloving injuries when the pedestrian slides across pavement after the initial strike
Many pedestrian accident victims face permanent limitations that prevent them from returning to their previous employment, and the cost of ongoing medical care frequently reaches six or seven figures over a lifetime.
What Compensation May a Baltimore Pedestrian Accident Claim Include?
Compensation in a Baltimore pedestrian accident case depends on injury severity, the strength of liability evidence, and available insurance coverage from the at-fault driver.
Maryland law allows injured pedestrians to pursue economic damages, meaning measurable financial losses, and non-economic damages, meaning pain, suffering, and quality-of-life impacts.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Medical expenses form the core of economic damages and include emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, and projected future treatment.
Lost wages and lost earning capacity also fall under economic damages when victims miss months of work or face permanent disabilities.
Maryland places a cap on non-economic damages in personal injury cases, and the cap amount increases each year. Economic damages like medical bills and lost income have no cap.
Does the Pedestrian's Own Insurance Cover Anything?
Pedestrians injured in Baltimore may have access to insurance coverage even though they were on foot.
Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payment (MedPay) benefits under a pedestrian's own auto policy may cover medical expenses regardless of fault.
Household auto policies belonging to family members may also provide UM coverage if the at-fault driver had no insurance or fled the scene.
What Is the Filing Deadline for a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Maryland?
Maryland's statute of limitations gives injured pedestrians three years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101. Property damage claims also fall under a three-year filing period.
Why Timing Matters Beyond the Statute of Limitations
The three-year deadline is the outer boundary, but practical considerations make earlier action far more beneficial. Traffic camera footage from Baltimore City intersections is typically stored for a limited period and may be overwritten if not requested promptly.
Insurance claims also have separate reporting deadlines that are much shorter than three years, and missing those deadlines may affect your ability to access certain coverage benefits.
FAQs for Baltimore Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
What if the driver who hit me was texting?
Distracted driving by texting strengthens a pedestrian accident claim significantly. Maryland prohibits texting while driving under Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1124.2, and cell phone records may prove the driver was using their phone at the time of the crash.
Can children file pedestrian accident claims in Baltimore?
Yes, children injured in pedestrian accidents may file claims through a parent or legal guardian.
Maryland law holds children to a lower standard of care than adults, meaning contributory negligence is harder for the defense to prove against a child pedestrian.
What if the crosswalk signal was broken or missing?
A broken or missing crosswalk signal may create liability for the government entity responsible for maintaining the intersection.
Claims against Baltimore City or Maryland state agencies follow different procedures and shorter notice requirements than claims against private drivers.
What happens if the police report says the accident was my fault?
A police report is one piece of evidence, but it does not make the final legal determination of fault. Officers often arrive after the crash and may not have access to traffic camera footage, signal timing data, or witness accounts that tell a more complete story.
Do I need a lawyer if I was hit by a car while walking in Baltimore?
You may need a lawyer if you were hit by a car in Baltimore, especially if you suffered injuries requiring medical treatment.
Maryland's contributory negligence rule means the insurance company may try to blame you for the crash to avoid paying anything at all, and legal representation helps protect against that defense.
How much does a Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyer charge?
Our firm handles pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe no fees unless we recover compensation for you. We advance all case-related costs and only collect a percentage of the final settlement or verdict.
What if the driver who hit me does not have car insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage through your own auto policy or a household family member's policy may provide compensation when the at-fault driver lacks insurance. We review all available policies to identify every potential coverage source.
Get Answers About Your Baltimore Pedestrian Accident Claim
Pedestrian accident victims in Baltimore face a legal system that may punish them for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, even when a negligent driver caused the crash.
Maryland's contributory negligence rule gives insurance companies a powerful tool to deny claims, and waiting to act only makes that tool more effective.
Furman Honick Law takes pedestrian accident cases across Baltimore on a contingency fee basis, and you owe nothing unless we recover compensation.
Our record of more than $80 million in client recoveries reflects the preparation and persistence we bring to every claim, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Call (410) 844-6000 to get clear answers about your pedestrian accident case from a Baltimore pedestrian injury attorney at our firm.