New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Fighting for Injured Walkers

A pedestrian has no protection against a moving vehicle. No seatbelt, no airbag, no steel frame. When a car or truck strikes someone on foot, the injuries are almost always serious and often life-threatening.

Papa Alpha & Alpha Law represents pedestrians injured by negligent drivers in Springfield, Union County, and throughout New Jersey. We know how these cases work and what it takes to secure full compensation.

New Jersey Crosswalk and Pedestrian Laws

New Jersey takes pedestrian safety seriously. Under N.J.S.A. 39:4-36, drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and at unmarked crosswalks at intersections. A driver who fails to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk faces traffic penalties and may be held liable for any resulting injuries.

Key New Jersey pedestrian laws include:

• Drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. This applies to both marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections.
• Drivers must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians crossing within any marked crosswalk.
• Pedestrians must obey traffic signals and use crosswalks where available (N.J.S.A. 39:4-34).
• Pedestrians have the right of way at signalized intersections when the walk signal is displayed.
• Jaywalking does not automatically bar a pedestrian from recovering damages, but it may reduce recovery under comparative negligence.

New Jersey law also requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid striking any pedestrian on the roadway, regardless of who has the right of way (N.J.S.A. 39:4-36).

How New Jersey No-Fault Insurance Applies to Pedestrians

Here is something many people do not realize: New Jersey's no-fault PIP insurance covers pedestrians. If you are hit by a car while walking, your own auto insurance policy provides PIP benefits for your medical expenses, even though you were not driving.

If you do not own a car and do not have your own auto insurance policy, you may still be covered. PIP benefits may be available through:

• A household family member's auto insurance policy
• The striking vehicle's insurance policy
• The New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association (if no other coverage exists)

PIP coverage pays for medical treatment regardless of fault. It provides a critical safety net while your personal injury claim develops.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Most pedestrian accidents are caused by driver negligence. Frequent scenarios include:

• Failure to yield at crosswalks. Drivers who do not stop or who accelerate through crosswalks.
• Distracted driving. Texting, phone use, and in-car distractions cause drivers to miss pedestrians entirely.
• Left turns at intersections. Drivers focused on oncoming traffic fail to see pedestrians in the crosswalk.
• Backing accidents in parking lots. Drivers reversing without checking behind them.
• Running red lights and stop signs. A pedestrian crossing with a walk signal has no chance to avoid a driver who blows through a red light.
• Impaired driving. Alcohol and drugs impair the ability to see and react to pedestrians.
• Speeding. Higher vehicle speeds dramatically increase the severity of pedestrian injuries and reduce the driver's reaction time.

Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents cause disproportionately severe injuries compared to vehicle-on-vehicle collisions:

• Traumatic brain injuries from impact with the vehicle or ground
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Multiple fractures, especially in the legs, pelvis, and ribs
• Internal organ damage
• Severe lacerations and road rash
• Crush injuries
• Fatal injuries

Even at low speeds, a vehicle striking a pedestrian can cause permanent disability. At speeds above 40 mph, the fatality rate climbs sharply.

Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Victims

As a pedestrian injured by a negligent driver, you may recover:

• Medical expenses from emergency care through long-term rehabilitation
• Future medical costs for ongoing treatment and therapy
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional and psychological trauma
• Disfigurement and permanent disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life

New Jersey's comparative negligence rule (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1) applies. If you were partly at fault, for example by crossing outside a crosswalk, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. You cannot recover if you are more than 50 percent at fault.

Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents

If the driver who hit you fled the scene, you still have options. Your own auto insurance policy's uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can provide compensation. If you do not have auto insurance, other coverage sources may be available.

New Jersey law requires you to report a hit-and-run to the police promptly and to file an uninsured motorist claim within the policy's required timeframe.

Filing Deadline

You have two years from the date of the pedestrian accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. If a government vehicle or government-maintained roadway condition caused the accident, you must file a tort claim notice within 90 days.

Call Papa Alpha & Alpha Law Today

If you were struck by a vehicle while walking in New Jersey, call Papa Alpha & Alpha Law at (201) 555-0100 for a free consultation. We represent pedestrian accident victims in Springfield, Union County, and across New Jersey. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.