Helping Bicycle and Pedestrian Accident Victims
Burlington Pedestrian Accidents Attorneys
Were you seriously injured by a negligent motorist while walking at an intersection or on a sidewalk, running or riding your bicycle?
We are the law firm to come to, for victims of crosswalk injuries or accidents while jogging or simply strolling with your infant along a city sidewalk in South or Central New Jersey. We are the local lawyers who solve local problems — Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. You can trust our more than 100 years of combined personal injury experience, large law firm expertise and small law firm personal service to offer your best chance for positive results.
We know the challenges you face: lost wages, medical bills, emotional trauma, replacement of your bike, pain and suffering, just to name a few. We respond to these challenges by investigating thoroughly, negotiating skillfully and litigating aggressively, if necessary, in court to win the maximum financial compensation you deserve.
Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. attorneys have handled many crosswalk accidents and pedestrian accidents in New Jersey since our founding in 1965. If you or a loved one has been hit by the careless driver of a car or truck, we encourage you to come to us before discussing your case with an insurance company. After all, insurance companies have only one goal — to make money. We have the strength to convince insurers to do what is right when a bicycle or pedestrian accident causes a catastrophic injury or wrongful death.
Contact our Burlington law offices today to arrange your free initial consultation. We can come to your home or hospital room if you are too injured to travel.
More Than 100 Years of Combined Experience, Protecting Our Clients’ Rights
Motorists typically either cannot see or fail to watch for pedestrians or people on bicycles or motorcycles. They take left turns into crosswalks. They rush out of driveways and parking lots. They hit people getting in and out of cars on the side of the road.
Smith Magram Michaud Colonna, P.C. lawyers hold these negligent drivers accountable for an accident victim’s serious injuries to the back, head, brain, knee, neck, spinal cord and shoulders. We will take great care to get you the compensation you need to cover past and future medical bills, not to mention all other costs associated with your serious injury.
You should have no worries about the costs of our quality services from start to finish of the legal process. The contingency fee basis for our work means that you owe no attorney fee unless we win your case.
Our compassionate Burlington bicycle accidents attorneys offer free initial consultations at this toll-free number: 609-589-0649. We respond promptly to e-mail and overnight messages.
New Jersey Crash Statistics Are Not Favorable To Pedestrians
Being a pedestrian can be hazardous to one’s health in New Jersey and around the country. U.S. Department of Transportation statistics showed that a pedestrian died, on average, in a traffic accident every two hours somewhere in the United States, and every seven minutes a pedestrian was injured. More than 4,700 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in that year alone.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that pedestrians are 15 times more likely to die in traffic accidents than occupants of passenger vehicles. Senior citizens and children bear the highest risk of dying in a pedestrian accident. Alcohol, whether it was consumed by the driver or the pedestrian, was involved in almost 50 percent of the auto-pedestrian accidents.
Since many of these types of accidents occur at night, pedestrians need to make sure they can be seen by carrying a flashlight or wearing protective clothing. They should make sure to cross streets at intersections, since many traffic accidents involving pedestrians occur at non-intersections. It’s safest if pedestrians walk on sidewalks, but when none are available, they should walk on shoulders facing oncoming traffic.
Even when a pedestrian does not die after being hit by a motor vehicle, they may still be seriously injured, especially if the vehicle was going fast. Those who have been injured in this type of an action may wish to speak with a personal injury attorney to determine the recourse that may be available. An attorney can review the police investigation report and other evidence to establish negligence on the part of the driver, which could form the basis of a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for the damages that were sustained.
Safety Measures For Pedestrian & Bicycle Accident Prevention
Like law-abiding motorists, New Jersey pedestrians who obey all the rules may encounter negligent drivers. Understanding the risks and not taking drivers for granted can save lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With several hundred pedestrians injured each day in traffic-related accidents, defensive walking is worth considering.
As with diseases, the CDC presents risk factors by demographic incidence. Those at greatest risk of serious injuries include males, intoxicated pedestrians and people under the age of 29. Older victims were found to have increased risk of fatal accidents, and 25 percent of all deaths occurred in pedestrian accidents involving victims of 14 years and younger. The CDC states the reasons for this being lack of experience with the rules, distances and speeds involved on roadways and relatively small size of children.
The grim reality of statistics is countered by steps that parents and walkers can take to improve their chances of safety. Children, for instance, can be taught to walk on sidewalks where available and to walk on the shoulder facing traffic when there is no sidewalk. Parents can also consult special websites that provide more tips and chart friendly pedestrian routes. Since a leading issue in auto-pedestrian accidents is visibility, retro-reflective gear and flashlights also enhance safety.
Even the best planning can end with a trip to the emergency room due to a negligent driver. Those who have been victims of a crosswalk injury caused by a driver who was distracted and who failed to yield the right of way may wish to consult with a personal injury attorney to determine the best method to seek compensation for the damages that they have sustained.
Additional Information About New Jersey Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents
There are many ways that individuals can be harmed in a pedestrian accident. Approximately 24 percent of these accidents are the result of tripping on a cracked or uneven sidewalk while another 17 percent are due to basic trips. Approximately 12 percent of the accidents involve a pedestrian getting hit by a car. Tripping on a stone accounts for 5 percent of the accidents while stepping in a hole accounts for another 5 percent. Animals are involved in 6 percent of the accidents.
Individuals who have been injured in pedestrian accidents may choose to contact a personal injury lawyer if someone else is to blame for their injuries. A personal injury lawyer may be able to assess which defendants may be legally responsible for the injuries. The attorney may explain the victim’s rights and provide information about options for recovering damages.
Following A Fatal Pedestrian Crash, Police Efforts Are Crucial
If your loved one was killed by a motorist while he or she was out walking, you would no doubt be in a state of extreme shock and emotional turmoil. Dealing with an unexpected death of a loved one is probably the hardest thing that anyone will ever have to do. On top of that, so many questions will remain after the pedestrian crash, as to who was at fault and how the incident took place.
This is why police efforts immediately following a fatal crash are crucial. Collecting evidence, identifying the at-fault party and bringing that person to justice — in addition to getting medical help for anyone who is injured — should be the ultimate priorities of law enforcement.
Example of a fatal pedestrian accident
Police should be congratulated for their successful efforts following a recent pedestrian accident in which a motorist fatally struck a pedestrian. The incident happened last Sunday morning, April 30, 2017, in Black Horse Pike a little before noon.
The pedestrian suffered severe head wounds and was later pronounced dead by emergency responders. The driver stayed at the accident scene to wait for authorities. During police investigations, they shut down sections of the roadway for over four hours. However, as of last reports, police said that the crash remains under investigation, and they have not revealed whether they will press charges.
Getting to the truth after a pedestrian accident
In most situations, police and law enforcement personnel do an excellent job to ensure that they bring the right parties to justice after a fatal pedestrian accident. However, they can make mistakes, and sometimes they won’t assign fault correctly.
If your loved one died in a pedestrian crash, and police decided that the motorist was not at fault, it may warrant further investigation. A personal injury lawyer — with experience in the realm of motor vehicle accident law and the litigation of pedestrian accidents — will know what evidence to look for to determine if the driver in a crash was at fault and liable for financial damages.