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Crowded streets in Jersey City, Paterson, Newark, and other New Jersey communities put people walking very close to fast‑moving traffic. When a driver or another party makes a poor choice, a person on foot usually suffers the worst injuries. That is what makes pedestrian accidents so dangerous and so common in our state.
In most New Jersey cases, liability comes down to negligence. That means someone failed to use reasonable care and caused harm. Often it is a careless driver, but unsafe roads, poor lighting, or even a pedestrian’s actions can share the blame. In this guide, we walk through the main causes of these crashes, how fault is decided under New Jersey law, and when it makes sense to call a New Jersey pedestrian accident lawyer like Ibrahim Law for help.
Driver Behaviors That Commonly Cause Pedestrian Accidents in New Jersey
Most pedestrian crashes start with a driver who is not paying enough attention or not following traffic rules. New Jersey law requires drivers to use reasonable care around everyone on the road, including people walking, jogging, or using a stroller or wheelchair. When drivers ignore that duty, they can be held financially responsible for the harm they cause.
Distracted driving and failure to pay attention to crosswalks
Phones are a major problem. When a driver texts, scrolls through apps, uses GPS, or checks social media, their eyes leave the road for seconds at a time. Add in eating, drinking, or turning to talk with passengers, and it is easy for that driver to miss someone in a crosswalk or stepping off a curb.
Under negligence law, that is a clear breach of the duty of care. A reasonable driver would keep their focus on the road and watch for people at corners, school zones, and bus stops. To prove distraction in a claim, we often look at:
- Police reports and citations
- Cell phone records and app usage logs
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage
This evidence helps show what the driver was doing in the moments before impact and connects that behavior to your injuries.
Speeding, aggressive driving, and running red lights
Speed kills when it comes to pedestrian safety. A speeding or aggressive driver has less time to see a person in the road and needs more distance to stop. In busy New Jersey areas, such as downtown Jersey City or near schools in Paterson, speeding through yellow lights or rolling through stop signs can be deadly.
Common danger spots include:
- Intersections with crosswalks
- Multi‑lane city streets
- Areas near bus stops and train stations
When a driver runs a red light, blows through a stop sign, or ignores crosswalk signals, they are violating traffic laws and their duty of care. Traffic tickets, witness statements, and intersection camera footage can be powerful proof of negligence and help support a claim for full compensation.
Impaired driving from alcohol, drugs, or fatigue
Alcohol, drugs, and extreme fatigue all slow reaction time and blur judgment. An impaired driver may not see a pedestrian in time, may misjudge speed and distance, or may drift into a crosswalk without noticing.
New Jersey treats impaired driving very seriously in both criminal and civil cases. In an injury claim, signs of impairment can strongly support a finding of negligence. Evidence often includes:
- Blood alcohol or drug test results
- Field sobriety test reports
- Officer observations at the scene
Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous. A driver who is nodding off or has been behind the wheel for many hours may react too slowly to a child chasing a ball or a parent pushing a stroller.
Failure to yield and unsafe turns at intersections
Many New Jersey pedestrian crashes happen at intersections, especially when drivers turn without checking for people in the crosswalk. Common patterns include:
- Turning right on red without fully stopping
- Making a left turn across a crosswalk while watching oncoming cars instead of pedestrians
- Rolling through stop signs in neighborhoods
Under New Jersey law, drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and, in many situations, in unmarked crosswalks at intersections as well. When a driver rushes a turn or focuses only on other vehicles, they breach their duty of care.
Traffic laws, video from nearby businesses, and detailed diagrams from the police report all help show how the turn happened and why the driver should be held responsible.
Road, Weather, and Environmental Factors That Put Pedestrians at Risk
Not every pedestrian accident is caused only by driver behavior. Sometimes road conditions, poor design, or bad weather contribute to the crash. In New Jersey, city or state agencies, property owners, or other entities can share fault when they allow unsafe conditions that put pedestrians at risk.
Poor road design, broken sidewalks, and missing crosswalk markings
Faded crosswalk lines, confusing intersections, and missing pedestrian signals can push people into dangerous spots. Broken sidewalks, large potholes near corners, or lack of curb ramps can also force someone using a cane, walker, or wheelchair into the road.
Government agencies have a duty to keep roads and walkways reasonably safe. When they fail to fix known hazards, they can sometimes be held liable. These cases often rely on:
- Photos and videos of the area
- Records showing complaints or prior accidents
- Opinions from engineers or road safety experts
Lack of lighting, blocked views, and parked cars near intersections
Dark streets, burned out streetlights, and overgrown trees can make it hard for both drivers and pedestrians to see each other. Cars parked too close to corners can also block sight lines, especially when someone is crossing with a stroller or small child.
These conditions do not excuse dangerous driving, but they can help show why a crash happened and who shares responsibility. Photos taken soon after the crash can be powerful proof of poor lighting, blocked views, or improper parking patterns.
Rain, snow, ice, and other bad weather conditions
Rain, snow, fog, and ice are common in New Jersey and they make walking and driving more dangerous. Visibility drops and roads become slick. Even in bad weather, drivers must slow down and use extra care, especially near schools, crosswalks, and bus stops.
A driver usually cannot blame the weather alone. If they did not adjust their speed or following distance, or if they kept texting in heavy rain, they can still be found negligent.
When Pedestrian Actions Affect Fault in a New Jersey Accident
Pedestrians also have legal duties. We are expected to use reasonable care, such as crossing at safe locations, obeying signals, and watching for traffic. Under New Jersey’s comparative negligence rule, an injured person can still recover money even if they are partly at fault, as long as they are not more than 50 percent responsible.
Unsafe crossing, distracted walking, and ignoring signals
Risky walking choices can increase the chance of a serious crash. Common examples include:
- Jaywalking or crossing mid‑block at night
- Stepping into the street while looking down at a phone
- Crossing against a red light or “Do Not Walk” signal
Insurance companies often jump on these facts to blame the pedestrian and cut the value of the claim. A skilled lawyer can push back by showing how the driver also broke their duty of care, such as speeding, failing to yield, or driving while distracted.
How New Jersey comparative negligence affects your right to compensation
Comparative negligence spreads fault between everyone who played a part in the crash. Here is a simple example:
- A driver is 80 percent at fault for speeding and running a red light
- The pedestrian is 20 percent at fault for stepping off the curb early
If the total damages are $100,000, the pedestrian could still recover $80,000. The award is just reduced by their share of fault. If a pedestrian is found more than 50 percent at fault, they usually cannot recover at all.
This is why it is so important to have attorneys like Ibrahim Law gather strong evidence. We work to keep unfair blame off injured people and show the full extent of driver and road‑related negligence.
Legal Steps After a Pedestrian Accident and When to Call a New Jersey Lawyer
Every successful pedestrian case rests on four basic points: duty, breach, causation, and damages. We must show that someone owed a duty of care, broke that duty, caused the crash, and that you suffered real harm. Understanding what caused your accident is the first step in proving who should pay and which insurance policies apply.
What to do right after a pedestrian accident in New Jersey
Right after a crash, your health comes first. Key steps include:
- Get medical care right away, even if injuries seem minor
- Call the police so there is an official report
- Get the driver’s name, contact details, and insurance information
- Take photos and videos of the scene, vehicles, and your injuries
- Look for cameras on nearby buildings, buses, or traffic signals
- Collect names and numbers of any witnesses
- Avoid saying “I’m fine” or “It was my fault”
Medical records and the police report become core evidence in your claim. They show how the crash happened and connect your injuries to the incident.
Why cause of the accident matters for your injury claim
To win a New Jersey pedestrian injury claim, we need to explain exactly what went wrong. Was the driver texting, speeding, turning without looking, or driving drunk? Did poor lighting, bad weather, or a missing crosswalk also play a role?
The answers help us:
- Prove negligence under New Jersey law
- Identify every responsible party, such as the driver, the vehicle owner, a city, or a company that made a defective part
- Reach all possible insurance coverage
At Ibrahim Law, we review videos, witness statements, phone records, road and weather conditions, and more. Our goal is to build a strong claim for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
How Ibrahim Law helps injured pedestrians in New Jersey
When you contact Ibrahim Law, we start with a free consultation to explain your rights and answer questions. We then:
- Collect and preserve key evidence before it disappears
- Handle all talks with insurance adjusters
- Work with your doctors to understand your long‑term needs
- Calculate fair damages, not just your first hospital bill
- Negotiate a settlement or file a lawsuit if needed
New Jersey law usually gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Cases involving government agencies can have much shorter notice deadlines. That is why it is important not to wait to get legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring a New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Do I really need a lawyer if the driver’s insurance company already called me?
When the driver’s insurance company calls, it may feel like help. In reality, the adjuster works for the company, not for you. Their job is to save money, often by getting you to talk in a way that shifts blame or by offering a quick, low settlement.
A lawyer levels the playing field. We speak for you, so your words are not twisted or used against you. We look at your medical records, future treatment, and lost income before any settlement talks, so you are not pushed into signing away your rights for far less than you need.
How does a New Jersey pedestrian accident lawyer prove what caused my crash?
Proving cause starts with a careful review of the police report and your own story. From there, we talk with witnesses, check for traffic or security cameras, and collect photos of the scene, lighting, and weather. If we suspect phone use, we may request cell records.
In some cases we work with accident reconstruction experts who can show how the impact happened. All of this evidence helps us prove the legal elements of negligence: that the driver or other party had a duty, breached that duty, caused the crash, and left you with real damages.
What if I was partly at fault, like crossing outside a crosswalk or looking at my phone?
Being partly at fault does not automatically end your claim in New Jersey. Under comparative negligence, you can still recover money as long as you are not more than 50 percent responsible. Your share of fault simply reduces your award.
Insurance companies often try to exaggerate a pedestrian’s mistake to avoid paying full value. We push back by showing that the driver still had a duty to slow down, watch the road, and follow signals. Our goal is to keep your share of fault as low as the evidence supports.
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit in New Jersey?
For most pedestrian injury cases, New Jersey gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. This rule is called the statute of limitations. If you miss the deadline, the court can throw out your case and you may lose the right to recover anything.
Claims against government agencies, such as a city that failed to fix a dangerous crosswalk, often have much shorter notice deadlines, sometimes measured in months. Reaching out to a lawyer early makes it easier to preserve evidence and protect your rights.
How do legal fees work for pedestrian accident cases at Ibrahim Law?
At Ibrahim Law, we handle pedestrian cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no upfront fees and no hourly charges. Our fee is a percentage of the money we recover for you through settlement or verdict.
If we do not recover anything, you do not owe a legal fee. Your first consultation is free and there is no pressure to hire us. This structure lets injured people get experienced legal help even if they are out of work or facing large medical bills.
What should I bring to my free consultation with a pedestrian accident attorney?
Bringing a few key items can help us review your case quickly. Helpful documents include:
- The police report, if you have it
- Photos or videos of the scene and your injuries
- Names and contact details for witnesses
- Medical records, discharge papers, and bills
- Health insurance and auto insurance cards
- Any letters, emails, or texts from insurance companies
It also helps to write down a list of questions and a timeline of what happened. With this information, we can explain your options and outline the next steps.
Conclusion
Most pedestrian accidents in New Jersey are preventable. They often trace back to driver negligence, dangerous road conditions, or a mix of both. Even when we feel we made a mistake, New Jersey law may still allow recovery for medical bills, lost income, and pain.
You do not have to deal with insurance companies and legal rules alone. Focus on healing while an experienced New Jersey pedestrian accident lawyer handles the legal side. If you or a loved one was hit while walking, contact Ibrahim Law for a free consultation so we can review your case, explain your rights, and work toward fair compensation.
