Take this weekend’s accident in Union City. Three teens were walking on the sidewalk when a driver, deciding to avoid those stopped at a red light, mounted the sidewalk and killed two of the teens and seriously injuring the third. The 23-year-old driver was arrested later and authorities have said the accident scenes was one of the worst scenes they have ever seen.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 4,735 fatal pedestrian accidents in 2013. This means on average, there was a fatal pedestrian accident every two hours in traffic crashes.
When a fatal auto accident occurs with a pedestrian, the driver is usually the one liable for the accident and can be charged with death by auto, along with a long list of other traffic violations. But to a grieving family, this many not be enough of a punishment. Can you imagine if the breadwinner of your family was killed in a fatal pedestrian accident? Your family not only suffered the loss of a loved one, but now you may experience financial difficulties with the loss of income.
However, there is a way to get compensation for your grief from the driver. Your family can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver. According to New Jersey’s wrongful death law, the family members of a person who has been killed by someone else’s negligence have a right to financial compensation for loss of family income, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.
If you lost a loved one in a fatal pedestrian accident, you have a right to get compensation. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone today for a free consultation.