Pedestrian accidents are among the deadliest kinds of vehicle accidents across the nation. If you are hit by a car, you may be able to recover compensation from the driver’s insurance company or your own. You may also be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 4,700 people die each year as a result of pedestrian accidents and 66,000 sustain serious injuries. New Jersey is actually one of the deadliest states when it comes to pedestrian accidents with over 125 fatal accidents occurring every year.
In fact, 24 percent of all crash deaths in New Jersey are pedestrian accidents. That is the highest rate in the nation. On average, the United States only has a 14 percent pedestrian death rate. Alcohol use and drunk driving is a contributing factor in nearly half of all fatal pedestrian accidents, which plays a role in three-quarters of these accidents occurring at night.
The number of pedestrian accidents in New Jersey and the Garden State is slowly increasing. There are many contributing factors to this increase, such as more and more pedestrians on or near the roadway and more incidents of distracted driving; even though New Jersey has banned texting while driving and similar cell-phone usage.
Liability for Pedestrian Accidents
When determining who’s at fault for a pedestrian accident, the driver is usually to blame. Both drivers and pedestrians should use reasonable care and caution when on or near the road. Regardless of your setting, such as an area with many pedestrians like a large city or out in the middle of nowhere, drivers should stay alert for any situation that may arise.
If you are the victim of a pedestrian accident, the driver’s car insurance or your own should take care of your medical bills and other damages and expenses. Even if you weren’t driving, your car insurance policy may apply to your damages depending on the type of coverage you have. In New Jersey, you can choose between no-fault car insurance or a normal fault-based policy. Information about both types of coverage can be found in this previous blog.
Contact Our Law Offices
If you sustained injuries or lost a loved one because of a pedestrian accident, contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone. We are committed to fighting for the compensation and damages you deserve.