New Jersey Pedestrians Versus Car Accident Kills Woman

There are times when a pedestrian may place him or herself in danger, such as when crossing a busy roadway. However, when walking along the designated walkways, one likely does not anticipate becoming a victim of a fatal car accident. Unfortunately, tragedy can befall New Jersey families seemingly without warning.

One such tragic accident occurred on a recent weekday morning. According to police, a woman and her brother were standing on a sidewalk at approximately 7:45 a.m. A 25-year-old driver purportedly struck the two pedestrians as they were stopped along the sidewalk at an intersection. Emergency crews responded to the scene, but a 34-year-old woman was killed in the collision. Her 30-year-old brother suffered critical injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene of the wreck. At the time of the crash, it was unknown as to what caused the driver to leave the travel lane and hit the victims on the sidewalk. While the New Jersey police did not file charges against him at the time of the accident, they have not completed their investigation, and charges could be filed against the driver at a later date if evidence suggests he committed any violations.

The family that just lost their daughter and have had another member seriously wounded may elect to pursue another avenue of justice against the driver who may be liable for their loss. A wrongful death and personal injury civil suit does not require the same level of evidence as a criminal case. Regardless of whether the authorities file charges, a successful civil suit could allow the family to recover some of the monetary damages that this tragic and possibly avoidable car accident has caused them to suffer in addition to their physical and emotional pain.

Source: Verona, NJ Patch, “Verona Sister Killed, Brother Injured; Crash Involved Belleville Driver: Authorities“, Eric Kiefer, Mar. 3, 2017