In the majority of cases, an individual will not go to prison for accidentally hitting or injuring a pedestrian as a result of an auto accident in New York. It is far more common for victims of these types of accidents to pursue a civil case for punitive and compensatory damages and engage a personal injury lawyer. The three primary reasons for incurring jail time after injuring a pedestrian during an auto accident are ‘hit and run’ cases, intoxication, or involuntary manslaughter.