Recent years have seen an alarming increase in pedestrian accidents and deaths in New Jersey’s major cities. Speeding, smartphones, and more motorcycles, cars, trucks, and pedestrians sharing the road are all contributing factors to this worrying trend.
Pedestrian accidents are almost always catastrophic and sometimes fatal. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, there are approximately 141 pedestrian fatalities each year due to crashes with motor vehicles while another 270 are severely injured.
Along with serious and potentially disabling injuries, victims of pedestrian accidents face lost income, high medical bills, and long, painful recovery periods. If this happens to you, the New Jersey pedestrian accident lawyers at Bross & Frankel, P.A. are here to help you understand your rights and pursue compensation from the negligent party who caused your accident and injuries.
What Compensation is Available in Pedestrian Accidents?
You may recover compensation if you are injured by someone else’s negligence or recklessness. Damages can include both actual costs (i.e. the amount spent on medical bills and loss of income) and compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. In some cases, punitive damages may also be available.
Damages that may be available in a New Jersey pedestrian accident claim include:
- Present and future medical treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium (for someone whose spouse dies)
At Bross & Frankel, P.A., we will explain what compensation may be appropriate in your case as we prepare your personal injury lawsuit.
When Should You Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
When you’ve been struck by a motor vehicle, the first thing you should do is seek medical help. Even if you think your injuries are so minor that you won’t need treatment, you still need to get a medical examination as soon as possible. It may take days or weeks for some injuries to manifest, so documenting your condition immediately following an accident is crucial for a successful insurance or legal claim.
As soon as it’s obvious that you’ve suffered an injury, get a legal consultation from a pedestrian accident lawyer at the personal injury law firm of Bross & Frankel, P.A. right away. We will review your medical records and the police report, talk to witnesses and, if necessary, bring in reconstruction efforts. Every action we take is intended to strengthen your case and get you the maximum compensation available.
How Can a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help Your Case?
The path to compensation can be complex when it comes to pedestrian accidents, as questions of liability frequently occur. You will get the best results if you work with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer who will prepare a strong case, deal with insurance adjusters on your behalf, and prevent them from damaging your right to fair compensation.
For comparative negligence determination, New Jersey follows the 50% rule, which means that if an injured party is over 50% at fault for the accident, they can’t claim damages. An experienced personal injury lawyer at Bross & Frankel, P.A. will anticipate any attempts by the defense to assign you an unfair degree of blame and seek to prevent them protecting their bottom line at your expense.
Common Causes of New Jersey Pedestrian Accidents
A motor vehicle accident involving pedestrians can be caused by a variety of factors that include:
- Driving while under the influence: Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is a leading cause of traffic accidents. This is one of the reasons why lawmakers are extremely tough on drunk driving.
- Distracted driving: Driving while texting, talking to passengers, and engaging in other activities that take one’s attention away from the road. Distracted drivers are more common now thanks to portable internet devices.
- Speeding: Pedestrian accidents are also caused by a negligent driver exceeding the speed limit and ignoring traffic signs and traffic signals.
- Failure to respect right-of-way: Many drivers fail to give pedestrians the right-of-way when crossing intersections. Most pedestrians killed in traffic accidents are struck at intersections.
- Night driving: Accidents involving pedestrians often happen at night. Poor visibility and more drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol contribute to dangerous driving conditions and traffic crashes.
- Road conditions: Black ice, pooled rain, fallen trees, and similar problems can cause dangerous road conditions. Bad weather is also a factor in many accidents.
If you suffer serious bodily injury because someone disobeyed traffic laws, you deserve fair compensation to cover your economic and non-economic damages and help you get back on your feet. The pedestrian accident attorneys at Bross & Frankel, P.A. will aggressively investigate your case, seek to identify hit-and-run drivers if necessary, and pursue the financial compensation that is critical to your recovery.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
New Jersey pedestrian accidents often result in devastating injuries requiring extensive medical care and rehabilitation. The nature of the collision often causes victims to sustain severe injuries to their upper extremities.
The most common pedestrian injuries include:
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash injury
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Torn and sprained ligaments
- Fractured and broken bones
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions of the scalp
- Abrasions, contusions, and lacerations of the face and hands
Fatal injuries may result in a wrongful death suit filed against the at-fault driver.
Talk to a New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
Many pedestrian accident victims are unsure of what to do to pursue their personal injury claims. At Bross & Frankel, P.A., we have years of experience in holding drivers accountable for catastrophic injuries they cause and will help you determine the best steps to achieve resolution and recovery. To schedule a free legal consultation with a New Jersey personal injury attorney, please contact one of our offices today. We serve clients across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.