Pedestrians who are hit by vehicles often sustain significant personal injuries. In most cases more substantial than car accidents. The New Jersey Law Journal sited in 2017 the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th largest personal injury settlements and trial verdicts to pedestrians struck by vehicles. Unlike a person in a car accident, a pedestrian is not covered by steel and a seatbelt to hinder momentum; consequently, brain injury, paralysis, loss of limbs, broken ribs, broken vertebrae, broken hips, broken ankles, broken sacrum, broken orbital bones and many other injuries including death may occur as a result of a car hitting a pedestrian.
Pedestrian Car Accident Damages
Pedestrians hit and injured by cars may recover damages for the following resultant consequences.
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Out of pocket expenses and/or
- Pain and suffering compensation
Generally, if the injured Pedestrian hit by a car chose verbal threshold on his policy, he can not sue the person who caused the car accident unless one of the exceptions applies.
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Loss of Fetus (unborn baby)
- Significant disfigurement or scarring
- Displaced fractures; or
- Permanent Injury
Moreover, in car accidents between pedestrians and automobiles New Jersey has many statutes that through due diligence an Attorney can determine the party at fault. Also, in many cities, there are traffic cameras and for most serious injuries the injured party is required to remain still until an ambulance arrives to render medical care and assure that the injury is not compounded through improper movement.
New Jersey may be legalizing recreational use of marijuana in the near future. Many car accidents between pedestrians and cars or auto accidents are caused by intoxicated or drunk drivers. If marijuana is legalized it will be interesting to see the impact that marijuana will have on the Pedestrian/Car Accident Law.
Consult a New Jersey Accident Lawyer if a Pedestrian Is Hit by a Vehicle
A pedestrian who is hit by a vehicle should consult an accident lawyer to get an analysis of his case and give him/her advice as to the correct approach to effectively move forward with the pedestrian-car accident case. These cases take time and the lawyer has to often work with physicians and the insurance agency to effectively treat the person first. In Serious injuries, no amount of money will put the person in the place that they were before the injury. The first goal is to mitigate the injury that has been suffered by the unfortunate Pedestrian who is hit by an automobile.
This article does not represent legal advice. Each case is fact-specific moreover the law is esoteric and dynamic consequently must be studied before an Attorney may give legal advice regarding a matter. If a Pedestrian gets in a car accident he should consult an Attorney.
Contact Charles Dawkins Jr. today at 908-962-9929 or online for a free consultation.