New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

What Are Common Types of New Jersey Pedestrian Accidents?

Here are some common walking accident scenarios in New Jersey:

Speeding – Speeding is one of the most common causes of car accidents with people walking. While speeding can include drivers going above the legal speed limit, it can also include drivers who fail to use the proper caution during inclement weather or traffic conditions.

Crosswalks — Some pedestrian car accidents occur when a person is legally in a crosswalk because a motorist fails to look out for people on foot. Individuals have a responsibility to obey traffic signals and WALK signs when they are in operation at an intersection. When there are no traffic control signals, motorists must yield the right-of-way, if a person is in a crosswalk. Motorists often cause accidents by failing to slow down and look for people who may be crossing the road within a crosswalk and have the right of way.

Hard to See at Night — Drivers should remain alert for people crossing the road or walking beside the road at all times. However low visibility makes it hard for drivers to see. People walking along the road or crossing intersections at night should wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight to be as visible as possible.

Inclement Weather — Pedestrian accidents are more common in bad weather when driver visibility is reduced. Drivers may be preoccupied with hazardous driving conditions and not expect to see people on the road. There are many reasons why the visibility of the driver may be impaired. Weather conditions such as rain, snow, or fog are some of the most common causes of a driver’s visibility being limited.

Manhole Covers – Occasionally, manhole covers are not properly replaced after work has been completed by the city or other local entities. Additionally, explosions due to underground utilities have been known to injure nearby humans.

Turning Vehicle — When a driver makes a left turn at an intersection where they have a green arrow, they have the right of way. However, drivers still have a responsibility to first check to ensure that everyone has finished crossing through the intersection safely. If a driver only has a green light (and not a green arrow), they have a legal responsibility to ensure that every pedestrian has safely traveled through the intersection before making their left turn.

It is important to note that many areas in New Jersey and New York prohibit a driver from making a right turn on red due to the amount of foot traffic at those intersections and to avoid the risk of car accidents.

Drunk or Impaired Drivers — Drivers who are intoxicated are less likely to be alert for people on the road and maybe speeding or driving erratically. Our attorneys are especially dedicated to helping victims of drunk drivers because one of our law partners, Steven Benvenisti, was critically injured as a college student in an accident caused by a drunk driver.

Drugs, alcohol, and various medications are known to impair a driver’s ability to see clearly, as well as use appropriate judgment in dangerous situations. Even a small amount of prescription or illegal drugs or alcoholic beverages can impair a driver’s judgment, causing slower reaction times.

What Are Common Types of Injuries Our New Jersey Pedestrian Lawyers Handle?

People on foot in New Jersey, whether they are walking, jogging, or just standing beside the road, are vulnerable to serious injuries in accidents caused by negligent drivers. Victims of New York or New Jersey sidewalk accidents who suffer serious physical or emotional injuries may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, rehabilitation, lost income from missed work, and other accident-related losses.

The common types of injuries we often see in pedestrian accidents include:

New Jersey State Law Regarding Pedestrian Accidents

According to the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, drivers in New Jersey must stop for all motorists in a marked crosswalk. The failure to do so can result in points on their driver’s license, a $200 fine, 15 days of community service, and possible increased insurance surcharges.

If you experienced injuries or losses as a result of an accident with a driver as a pedestrian at a crosswalk in the states of New Jersey, you may have the right to receive compensation for your economic and non-economic losses.

How A Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in New Jersey Can Help

1. Explaining your rights: An experienced accident attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and avoid being taken advantage of by insurance companies. You should never assume that you are at fault if you have been struck by a vehicle while crossing the street on foot.
2. Gathering evidence: They will collect camera footage, talk to witnesses, and investigate the scene of accident to build a solid case for you.
3. Handle communications: Is the opposing insurance company contacting you trying to settle? They are probably trying to low-ball you. Your lawyer will handle all the communications with relevant authorities.
4. File a case and negotiate compensation: This involves filing the case in court and getting the best possible outcome for you.

The driver who hit you may have been speeding, driving distracted, trying to beat a red light, or simply not paying adequate attention. Many motorists are looking for other vehicles and are not watching out for people on foot.  Drivers have a legal duty to take reasonable precautions and pay attention to the road.

Some pedestrian accidents involve hit-and-run drivers who flee the accident scene. A person who is injured by a hit-and-run driver may make a claim against the uninsured motorist coverage of his or her own auto liability policy, if available.  The uninsured motorist coverage takes the place of the insurance the hit-and-run driver should have provided.

Our pedestrian injury lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., will do an investigation of the accident, talk to witnesses and move quickly to gather the evidence before it is lost such as security camera footage that shows how the accident occurred. Our lawyers from our experienced team will identify all parties who may be liable for your injuries and the insurance policies available to provide compensation. Drivers in New Jersey are required to have auto liability insurance to cover the damages they cause.

Based on our years of experience handling personal injury claims, our crosswalk accident law firm will develop an estimate of the full value of your claim and negotiate aggressively with the insurers for maximum compensation.

If you try to reach a settlement with an insurance adjuster on your own, you may make a statement or a misstep that the insurer will use against you to deny your claim. The insurer may make a low offer that is only a fraction of the true value of your claim. We will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and seek a full settlement.

Because many people who live in New Jersey suffer injuries in New York there is an overlap between the New Jersey laws affecting injured pedestrians. Shortly after an accident the injured individual must contact their insurance carrier and may have different options as to the insurance company paying their medical bills. Skilled lawyers familiar with both New Jersey and New York No-Fault insurances have the necessary expertise to determine which election to make.

WARNING: You may be approached by an insurance company to try to shut down your claim by offering you money.

1. Be careful don’t sign anything without talking to the right lawyer first.
2. Real estate, criminal defense, bankruptcy, or divorce lawyers are the wrong people to talk to. You need to call an experienced and skilled personal injury lawyer for free advice.
3. If you try to reach a settlement with an insurance adjuster on your own, you may make a statement or a misstep that the insurer will use against you to deny your claim.
4. Assume that all conversations are being recorded to use against you.
5. The insurer may make a low offer that is only a fraction of the true value of your claim. This conversation could just be a trap for them to get valuable admissions against you to make you think your claim has little or no value. Don’t be fooled. Be cautious. We are equipped to negotiate with the insurance companies to win a full settlement.

Contact Our New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident in New Jersey, you have only a limited amount of time from the date of the injury to file an injury claim. Evidence will be lost if you do not get an attorney on the case quickly.

Contact us to speak with an experienced New Jersey pedestrian accident lawyer. We represent accident victims in New Jersey and New York. Our personal injury law firm does not charge attorney fees unless we are successful in obtaining money for you through an insurance settlement or jury award.

Making an appointment is quick and easy, and all consultations can be virtually through Zoom, Facetime, or Zoom.  Do not stress about what to do.  Put yourself at ease by calling us and speaking to a knowledgeable and experienced New York pedestrian injury lawyer for an on-the-spot, no-obligation free consultation to learn about your rights.

We are not a referral service. Everything you tell us is strictly confidential and private. We are here to help you. We’re here for you. Contact our dedicated pedestrian accident attorneys today for a free consultation by calling 1-800-LAW-2000 or using our online form.