New Jersey Injury Attorney Blog

In what is being called a tragic accident, a 17-year-old girl has lost her life after being hit by a car in Randolph. According to a nj.com article, the young girl was crossing Route 10 when she was hit by a car driven by a 59-year-old Morris Township woman. Morris County Prosecutor stated that no criminal negligence on the part of the motorist caused this fatal incident. The motorist was driving westbound and had a green light at the time of the pedestrian accident. Apparently, the girl crossed the highway at the Center Grove Road intersection at 8:45 p.m.

As tragic as this accident is, it serves as a reminder of how important it is for drivers to be on full alert, even when it is their right-of-way or when they have a green light. Although at the time of the article’s release, it was said that the investigation into this accident is still ongoing, authorities may not charge the motorist who took this young girl’s life. However, blood and urine samples for testing to determine any alcohol or drug presence in the female driver are pending.

Continue reading "Randolph Pedestrian Accident Proves Fatal" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful death

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As Halloween approaches, New Jersey Police officers are reminding citizens to be on alert whether they are driving or walking along the streets. Based on an nj.com article, there has already been an increase in pedestrian fatalities this year, with 127 deaths reported compared to 103 last year during the same timeframe. Five of those pedestrian victims have been 16 years of age or younger, which is why the recent warning relating to Halloween emphasizes being cautious of the whereabouts of children.

According to a New Jersey police Sgt., children have been known to run into the street without checking for vehicles in the hubbub of trick-or-treating, and wear costumes that limit their vision, not to mention their visibility to others. In order to help monitor the safety of children as well as others out on the night before Halloween and on the day of Halloween, stations will be putting extra troopers in areas where trouble and mischief is known to be more prominent.

New Jersey Police reported that since 2001, there have been 10 pedestrian fatalities on Halloween and there was one pedestrian death each Halloween during 2008, 2007, 2006, and three deaths in 2005. Two teenagers were killed in 2004.

Continue reading "New Jersey Police Warns Drivers to be Careful Halloween Weekend" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful death

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A recent pedestrian accident should serve as a reminder to all motorists how important it is to be aware of individuals crossing the street. There is really no excuse for an automobile, bus, truck, or motorcycle to strike a pedestrian, especially during broad daylight. According to a recent article, a 26-year-old woman endured several injuries after she was hit by a school bus that was making a left-hand turn at Avenue C and 54th Street. The Bayonne woman suffered leg fractures and head trauma and was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center where she was reported to be in critical condition.

This accident was almost a hit-and-run since the bus driver was oblivious to the fact that he had struck a pedestrian. Another driver had to follow the bus half a block to get the bus driver’s attention. The bus driver told police that he did in fact see a woman lying in the street when he looked in his rearview mirror, but that he had no reason to believe that he was involved. As of now, the 69-year-old bus driver, who is a retired Bayonne police officer, is not facing any charges for the accident.

Continue reading "Bayonne Pedestrian Suffers Serious Injuries After Being Hit by School Bus" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Bus accident , Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury

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There has been much discussion about the apparent dangers of cell phone use and driving, whether it’s sending a quick text message or answering a call. It shouldn’t be surprising then that pedestrians can be just as distracted when on the phone as drivers are while driving; however, this does not excuse a driver from striking and killing a pedestrian that was texting or talking on the phone at the time of an accident.

A recent article from nj.com reported that a man that was on his cell phone while standing by the side of the road along Route 77 was hit by a tractor-trailer and killed on the morning of September 16, 2009. Apparently, the man stepped into the roadway in front of the tractor-trailer. As of now, charges have not been filed against the truck driver; however, it was reported that the accident is currently still under investigation. Police have not revealed any speculation as to why the man entered the truck’s pathway.

Continue reading "Tractor-Trailer Strikes Man on Cell Phone" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents , Wrongful death

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More than a dozen southern New Jersey communities will be hosts to the fourth Pedestrian Decoy Program on August 14, 2009. The initiative aims to spread awareness of traffic laws by enforcing the rules of the road to help lower an increase in deaths on New Jersey roadways. According to an article, state and local authorities are concerned that the growing number of motorists turned pedestrians could negatively impact the already growing number of pedestrian deaths in New Jersey. The Pedestrian Decoy Program may force some motorists to consider the necessity of yielding to pedestrians regardless of whether or not pedestrians are following the rules of the road, particularly since violations occurring during the program could result in traffic citations of $100 or upward, and points being added to their license.

The director of New Jersey’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety said that the number of fatal car crashes involving pedestrians is “too high” and “unacceptable.” From the program’s inception in 2006, the number of fatal pedestrian auto crashes has significantly decreased. In 2006, 164 of the 771 fatal auto crashes in New Jersey involved pedestrians. However, the following year, only 150 of 774 fatal auto accidents resulted in pedestrian death. In 2008, both the number of deaths and the number of accidents decreased, with only 138 pedestrian deaths having occurred out of 590 total car crashes resulting in fatality. Sadly though, after posting the lowest level of New Jersey pedestrian deaths involving automobiles since the 1940s, the numbers started increasing in January of this year, and unfortunately haven’t ceased. Based on the report, as of August 12, 2009, there have been 103 New Jersey pedestrian accident deaths out of 344 auto accidents. At the same time in 2008, the total number of pedestrian deaths had only amounted to 79.

Continue reading "New Jersey Pedestrian Decoy Program Hopes to Raise Awareness of Laws to Decrease Fatalities" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful death

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Seven people were struck and injured by a suspected drunk driver in a pedestrian accident in New Jersey, which occurred after the driver's car apparently jumped a curb, the Associated Press reports. The driver ran into a crowd of people who were gathered on a sidewalk because some of the stores were holding outdoor sales at 57th Street and Bergenline Avenue. One victim, a 44-year-old man, was pinned underneath the vehicle and suffered major injuries including fractured legs and hips. Six other victims, who ranged in age from 13 to 65, sustained relatively minor injuries. Police say the driver, a 43-year-old New Jersey man, will be charged with drunk driving.

It is against New Jersey law to drive a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and to drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent. Those who are convicted of drunk driving face serious criminal charges, but they can also be held civilly liable for any injury caused to others because of their negligent and reckless behavior.

Continue reading "North New Jersey DUI Pedestrian Accident Injures 7" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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Pedestrian accident deaths have skyrocketed in New Jersey, a recent report states. Last year, auto accidents dropped 18.5 percent. However, pedestrian accident fatalities rose by a whopping 36.5 percent. New Jersey State police statistics show motor vehicles were responsible for 86 walking deaths. Three victims were under 16 and 38 were over 49.

What are the most common causes for these fatal pedestrian accidents in New Jersey? According to the columnist, based on statistics provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts, speeders, reckless and inattentive drivers are each ticketed at a rate 22 times greater than pedestrian violators. Police also concede apparently that they tend to target drivers over jaywalkers, especially those who speed and drive under the influence.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Accident Deaths Rise in New Jersey" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Wrongful death

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A New Jersey driver reportedly caused the death of an Evesham man in a pedestrian accident, according to this news report in the Burlington County Times. The pedestrian accident victim was reportedly walking on the southbound shoulder of a road when he was struck by the northbound vehicle. Police say the drugs inside the man's vehicle were unauthorized prescription painkillers.

Pedestrian accidents are devastating to pedestrians because when a pedestrian is hit by a car or another vehicle, the laws of physics almost guarantee that he or she will be badly injured. Like all drivers, New Jersey drivers have the legal obligation to watch for pedestrians on the road.

Unfortunately, many drivers are negligent. More than 20 percent of New Jersey traffic deaths in 2005 involved pedestrian accidents, while the national percentage was just 11.2 percent. The most common causes of pedestrian versus auto accident include inattention, intoxication, falling asleep at the wheel and distractions such as texting or talking on the cell phone.

Continue reading "Fatal Pedestrian Accident" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful death

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A recent article from JusticeNewsFlash.com described a New Jersey pedestrian accident which claimed the life of an elderly Trenton man. Officials with the Trenton Police Department say that the 86-year-old man died from injuries he suffered when he was struck by a motorcycle driven by a 49-year-old man of Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. According to law enforcement officials investigating the New Jersey pedestrian accident, the incident occurred around 7:15 on the evening of May 9, 2009. Officials from the Trenton Police Department say that the motorcyclist was riding his motorcycle down an undisclosed Trenton street when he struck the pedestrian with his motorcycle.

After striking the pedestrian with his motorcycle, Trenton Police report that the driver then crashed into a telephone pole at a high rate of speed and died from injuries he suffered in the collision. Emergency response personnel responding to the auto accident in New Jersey claim that the elderly man died instantly at the accident scene from the grave injuries he received from being struck by the motorcycle. After striking the telephone pole, the motorcyclist was reportedly thrown from his motorcycle an undisclosed distance and later transported to the Capital Health System at Fuld Hospital in Trenton for treatment for his injuries. He was admitted with injuries described as ‘critical’ and died from his injuries approximately three hours after being admitted for treatment.

The investigation into the tragic accident was still underway when the article was published, but Trenton police say that the motorcyclist had just left a nearby bar shortly before the pedestrian accident occurred. They suspect that alcohol may have been a factor in the fatal accident but are withholding making a formal statement pending the results of blood tests.

Continue reading "New Jersey Pedestrian vs. Motorcycle Accident Kills Elderly Man and Driver" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Motorcycle Accident , Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful death

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A recent report on WPVI Channel 6 says that the 69 year old man of Trenton died from his injuries after he was struck by a bus at the intersection of South Broad and Market Streets. The New Jersey pedestrian accident occurred around 11:15 on the morning of June 1, 2009, and law enforcement officials investigating the accident say that a Stout’s Bus was northbound on South Broad Street and making a left turn onto Market when the man was struck. After the bus hit him, the pedestrian was dragged under the bus and pinned underneath, and it reportedly took emergency response personnel almost two hours to remove the body from beneath the bus.

After emergency response personnel were able to recover the pedestrian's body, he was pronounced dead at the scene.After the wrongful death accident in New Jersey, the driver of the bus was taken to Capital Health Systems at Fuld for routine blood tests to determine whether or not he was operating his vehicle under the influence of any intoxicants at the time of the pedestrian accident. Law enforcement officials investigating the accident said that they do not expect to file any criminal charges against the bus driver, but he will likely be charged with several motor vehicle offenses.

The Stout Bus Company, located in Ewing Township, owns the bus that was involved in the pedestrian accident and is under contract with Mercer County to transport employees and jurors in buses to and from the Sovereign Bank Arena and back to the Mercer County courthouse. At the time the pedestrian accident occurred, there were reportedly no passengers on board the bus. The bus has been impounded and is expected to undergo a thorough Mechanical Safety Inspection conducted by the New Jersey State Police Commercial Carrier Inspections Unit.

Continue reading "New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Kills Man" »

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Posted In: Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful death

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Police are looking for witnesses in the cases of two young women who were killed while crossing major highways on foot in separate pedestrian accidents in New Jersey in the past week, according to a Princeton Packet report.

On May 4, Candace L. Puckett, 26, of Westampton, died of multiple blunt force injuries after being struck trying to cross the northbound lanes of Route 130 around 10:15 p.m., according to police.

In a similar incident several days earlier, Arlee M. Toto, 27, of Columbus, was struck and killed while walking south along Route 206 at 2:34 a.m., police said.

The families of these two wrongful death victims should immediately call an experienced New Jersey wrongful death attorney. To begin with, investigation must be done right away and the families should not just sit back and wait on the police to investigate.

There are certain ways to recover on a wrongful death action in New Jersey, including a recovery for the Estate, for the conscious pain and suffering that the decedent went through, and pecuniary harm that was caused to family members by the decedent’s death. An experienced New Jersey wrongful death attorney can make sure that the families rights are fully protected and that the recovery can be maximized.

There are certain procedural steps that also must be followed, including putting UM insurance on notice, potentially filing Notice of Tort Claim forms and completing forms at the County Surrogate’s Office.

If you are a family member of a person that was killed as a result of another person’s negligence, call the Law Offices of Lependorf & Silverstein for a free consultation with a skilled New Jersey wrongful death lawyer.

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Posted In: Pedestrian Accidents , Wrongful death

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Two men in their mid-20s suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries after they were struck by a vehicle while crossing a Teaneck Township street, the Bergen County Record reports. Police have not filed any charges against the 71-year-old female driver. The pedestrians were both dressed in dark clothing as they walked across Roemer Avenue the evening of January 31, 2009, officials said. The woman told police she did not see the men walking across the street.

It is not clear whether these pedestrians were walking across the street in a crosswalk or at an intersection. In any case, motorists in New Jersey are required to stop for pedestrians and yield. In this case, the elderly driver told officials she simply did not see the two pedestrians. If officials determine that the female driver was negligent or not paying attention to the road, then she may face charges for causing pedestrian accident injuries. She could also be held financially responsible for the injuries caused to the two men.

Continue reading "Teaneck Township Pedestrian Accident Injures Two " »

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Posted In: Pedestrian Accidents

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A 21-year-old Saddle Brook Township woman suffered critical injuries after she was struck by a school bus and her legs got caught in one of the bus’ rear wheel wells. According to this news report, the woman was crossing Nedellec Drive when she was struck by the school bus. She was removed from under the bus and taken to an area hospital where she was in critical condition. The school bus was reportedly transporting three students. None of the students was injured. The bus was operated by Atlantic Express of Jersey City, the news report said.

If a bus accident in New Jersey occurs because of the bus driver’s negligence, the driver and his employer could be held liable for the accident and the injuries caused as a result. When pedestrians are struck by buses, it often results in catastrophic injuries or death because of the sheer size of the large vehicle that is striking the individual.

Continue reading "Saddle Brook Township Woman Seriously Injured in School Bus Accident" »

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Posted In: Bus accident , Pedestrian Accidents

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Police in North Bergen are trying to identify a man who they say was killed after two cars hit him the morning of January 31, 2009. According to this news report, neither of the drivers stopped after striking the pedestrian who was crossing the street at the intersection of 51st Street and Kennedy Boulevard.

Police believe that the second driver may not have known that he or she hit a person. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are still interviewing eyewitnesses who say they saw the second car hit the man, who officials believe is about 30 years old.

Drivers in New Jersey have a legal duty to watch for pedestrians on the road. Unfortunately statistics show that more than 20 percent of New Jersey traffic accident deaths in 2005 involved pedestrians.

Continue reading "North Bergen Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run Accident" »

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Alexander Castellano, a 52-year-old Union Township man was killed in a pedestrian accident on January 6, 2009, according to a news article in The Star-Ledger. Castellano was trying to cross the road on Morris Avenue near Nicholas Avenue when he was hit by a westbound Chevy Malibu driven by John Leather Jr. of North Plainfield.

Castellano died of fatal head injuries after he was thrown into the car’s windshield. Preliminary investigation apparently reveals that Castellano was not using a crosswalk. But officials are still not sure what occurred and are calling on eyewitnesses to come forward with any information they may have about this incident. If you saw this fatal New Jersey pedestrian accident or have any information, please call 908-851-5070.

As New Jersey auto accident attorneys, we know that most traffic investigations are complex. The details that come out of an initial investigation may be very different from the final determination. An accident investigation involves interviewing eyewitnesses, the parties involved in the accident as well as collecting evidence at the scene of the accident. The final determination of who was at fault for the accident will be based on the information that is collecting during the investigation.

Generally speaking, motorists are expected to yield right-of-way to pedestrians. If an accident investigation reveals that the motorist failed to do that or was driving negligently when he or she struck the pedestrian, then the motorist could be held liable for the accident and injuries caused. If you or someone you love has been the victim of a New Jersey pedestrian accident, please call an experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyer at Lependorf & Silverstein for a free consultation.

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A driver, who was trying to park his car at a Woodcliff Lake supermarket lost control of his car on November 28, 2008 and ran over Nancy Helfrich, a 64-year-old woman, the Bergen County Record reports. Solly Tetefsky, 73, reportedly pulled into a parking spot in front of the A & P store when her foot “got stuck” on the accelerator.

Tetefsky’s car went over a pedestrian sidewalk and over a small flower bed, crossed a main driveway of the store and struck Helfrich. Tetefsky was not injured in this auto vs. pedestrian accident, but Helfrich was taken to the hospital with leg injuries. Tetefsky has not been cited or arrested pending a police investigation.

A lot of questions remain to be answered in this auto accident in Woodcliff Lake. It is not known whether Tetefsky suffered a medical condition. This incident also throws the spotlight on an important and often-ignored issue of senior drivers. This is one of the reasons why senior drivers must be carefully monitored and be required to stop driving if they have medical issues or if their health deteriorates. Senior drivers, who cannot see or react properly, are not only a danger to themselves but also to other motorists and pedestrians.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a New Jersey pedestrian accident, please call a skilled New Jersey auto accident lawyer at Lependorf & Silverstein to find out about your rights and legal options. Negligent drivers who caused the accident and your injuries can be held financially responsible and made to compensate you for your medical bills, loss of wages and other expenses you incur as a result of the accident and injuries.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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A 56-year-old man was critically injured in an October 24, 2008 Clifton pedestrian accident after he was struck by a car while crossing the street. According to this news report in the Bergen County Record, the victim was walking west of Paulison near Clifton Avenue when he was struck by 34-year-old Orlandito Rodriguez, who was driving a silver 2002 Acura traveling south.

The victim was struck in the leg and suffered head injuries with potential traumatic brain injury. He was admitted to an area hospital in the intensive care unit, the report stated. The driver, Rodriguez, has not yet been cited or arrested pending an investigation. Police also say Rodriguez did not seem to have been operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. According to the news report, police in Clifton have responded to 76 pedestrian accidents just this year.

New Jersey drivers have a legal duty to watch for pedestrians on the road. Unfortunately, New Jersey has a particularly high percentage of pedestrian accident related fatalities. Statistics show that more than 20 percent of New Jersey traffic deaths in 2005 were pedestrian accident fatalities. By comparison, the national percentage for pedestrian accidents was 11.2 percent.

Pedestrian accidents could commonly occur because of driver inattention, error, distraction, speed or driving under the influence. The victim and his family would be well-advised to contact an experienced Princeton personal injury attorney who has an excellent track record with pedestrian accidents. If you have been injured in an auto or pedestrian accident, please call Lependorf & Silverstein for a free and comprehensive consultation.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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