In many cases, the driver may claim they “couldn’t see you in time,” especially where lighting changes quickly or where snow and slush reduce visibility. In other cases, the dispute centers on timing: whether you were in the roadway before the vehicle began its turn, whether the driver had a clear lane to stop, or whether the vehicle was traveling too fast for conditions.
Buffalo’s mix of residential streets, school-and-work commuting routes, and busy retail corridors means pedestrian incidents frequently involve:
- Turning vehicles at intersections (driver says you stepped into the path too late)
- Crosswalk confusion (driver argues the signal or markings were unclear)
- Poor weather visibility (glare, wet pavement reflections, snowbanks)
- Darkness after work or evening events (headlight glare and limited sight distance)
When insurance adjusters sense uncertainty, they may shift blame to the pedestrian to reduce payout. The right investigation helps prevent that.


