Mercer County NJ Bicycle & Pedestrian Accident Injury Attorneys
Providing Legal Assistance to Injured Victims throughout New Jersey
As a pedestrian or bicyclist, you are relatively unprotected in the event of an accident. Taking to the road on your bike or on foot in any urban or suburban community poses a risk. In this day and age, due to the rise in cars on the road as well as the distractions available to drivers, being a motorist, passenger, bicyclist, or pedestrian can be precarious and requires extra care. Motorists are required to exercise due caution when driving near people on foot or on bike, but all too often, negligence on the part of car and truck drivers leads to serious pedestrian or bicycle accidents. These traumatic events can lead to severe injuries.
If you or a loved one has suffered a pedestrian or bicycle accident injury, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Cohen & Riechelson are here to help you pursue compensation for your losses. We stand up for the rights of injured pedestrians and bicyclists throughout New Jersey and we have conveniently located offices in Trenton and Pennington, NJ.
Contact us online or by telephone at (609) 528-2596 to arrange a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey bicycle and pedestrian accident lawyer. Time is of the essence. You have two years from the date you sustained your injuries to file a lawsuit in New Jersey.
I worked with Phil Cohen who helped me with injuries my Dad suffered as a pedestrian. Phil was very responsive and came to meet with my Dad. He was very helpful during the complicated process and explained everything patiently along the way. I highly recommend Phil and firm.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents Pose Great Dangers in Mercer County NJ
New Jersey is working to protect pedestrians from accident injuries. Some new safety measures have already been put in place, including 5,000 feet of sidewalk along the Black Horse Pike and Route 9 in Atlantic County and high-visibility crosswalks along two Main Street intersections in Little Falls.
Nonetheless, negligent motorists continue to inflict untold hardships on pedestrians throughout the state. Some of the most dangerous areas for pedestrians in New Jersey include:
- Route 130 Burlington Pike in Burlington County
- Routes 1 and 9 in Union County
- Route 1 in Middlesex County
- Route 35, Middlesex County
- Black Horse Pike, Atlantic County
- Route 22, Somerset County
While these arterial roadways are located near some of the most densely populated areas of New Jersey, they are not pedestrian-friendly. They were designed to keep traffic moving along at speeds of 40 mph or greater, not to ensure the safety of pedestrians.
Top Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in New Jersey
Accidents involving pedestrians are commonly caused by distracted drivers and even cyclists. It is a motorist’s legal duty to maintain a lookout for others, including other vehicle driver, motorcycles, cyclists, and foot traffic, while on the road. For various reasons, drivers often fail to see others, especially those without a vehicle. Distracted or negligent drivers can be held legally and financially responsible for injuries and property damage done to a pedestrian.
Another common cause of pedestrian accidents doesn’t necessarily involve other motorists at all. In many cases, a street or sidewalk in disrepair or a barrier to balance placed in a roadway can cause a pedestrian to be injured. In this case, the responsible party would likely be the municipality in which the accident occurred. Whether it is a person, company, or government body, an injured pedestrian can seek financial damages when injured by the negligence of those responsible.
Other Causes of Bicycle Accident Injuries
In addition to similar causes of pedestrian accidents, bicyclists frequently experience dooring accidents, which occur when a car’s passenger opens the door without looking first. The cyclist tries to avoid the door but is hit by another automobile or a pedestrian as a result. If the cyclist does not have enough time to react they may crash into the door at a speed, which may cause severe injuries.
Types of Injuries that Happen to Pedestrians
Unfortunately, one of the most dangerous forms of transportation is walking along roadways as a pedestrian. Pedestrian injuries vary greatly depending upon many factors such as the nature of the accident, the speed at which they are struck, and their position at the time of the accident.
According to the National Institute of Health’s National Center for Biotechnology Information, over 40 percent of adult pedestrians involved in accidents experience musculoskeletal injuries such as bone breaks and fractures, while head injuries and neck injuries such as whiplash, herniated cervical discs, and neck strains constitute around one out of every five injuries. Unfortunately, children make up a large portion of pedestrians injured by motorists. The NIH reported that the most common injuries to child pedestrians and bicyclists are traumatic brain injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, and chest and abdominal injuries.
Actions to Take after being Injured in a Pedestrian or Biking Accident in New Jersey
It is critical to know what to do if you are injured as a result of being struck while walking or biking aside or across a roadway. The most essential procedure for any pedestrian or bicyclist following an accident is to seek immediate medical attention. When your physical safety has been ensured, file a police report as soon after the accident as possible, taking the contact and insurance information of others involved in the incident, as well as the contact information of any witnesses.
Gather as much pertinent information as you can, including photos of the scene and representations of the weather and light at the time. Upon getting your immediate medical needs met and a police report filed, contact your insurance provider and an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Elements Considered to Prove a Pedestrian or Bicyclist Accident Case in NJ
A person injured in a roadway or municipal accident has the burden of proving that the responsible party, be it a motorist or the city, was negligent, and their negligence led directly to the accident and caused the injury. This proof of the responsible party’s negligence is an essential tenet of personal injury law in New Jersey, including claims on behalf of injured pedestrians or bicyclists.
Since the burden of proof lies with the pedestrian or bicyclist victim in an accident injury to prove negligence on the part of the responsible party, having the support of a personal injury lawyer is a non-negotiable for handling your accident claim.
Damages that can be Recovered if You Have Been Injured
Those injured in an accident due to the negligence of a motorist, cyclist, or unsafe walking conditions due to improper city maintenance may be able to recover financial compensation for their injuries. Medical payments, lost wages, out-of-pocket charges related to the injury, property damage, and even non-economic losses such as pain and suffering are all included in these damages.
When a pedestrian or cyclist is killed, their next of kin can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover financial compensation for the victim’s medical expenses, funeral costs, burial or cremation expenses, lost future income, and the victim’s pain and suffering. Additionally, the close family can recover damages for loss of companionship.
We Fight to Protect the Rights of Injured Pedestrians and Bicyclists in Mercer County NJ
Our personal injury lawyers at Cohen & Riechelson have handled numerous pedestrian and bicycle accident cases over the years with outstanding results. If you or a loved one is injured, be confident in the knowledge that our attorneys will offer you comfort and assurance that your case is a priority and that the results will not only be appropriate to your needs but will exceed your expectations.
Our experience and understanding of the nuances of New Jersey law can provide the solid foundation you need to ensure that you recover financial damages for this traumatic disruption to your life. With every injury case that our firm has deftly handled over more than 50 years, we dedicate ourselves to ensuring our clients receive the full financial counterpart to the physical, professional, and emotional damages they have endured following an accident.
Contact our Hamilton NJ Bike Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you or someone close to you has been injured in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, we are here to help you pursue compensation for your losses. Contact us online or by telephone at (609) 528-2596 to receive a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey bike and pedestrian accident lawyer at Cohen & Riechelson today.
We provide a no-cost, no obligation review of your case and can provide further assistance with your potential claim. Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means that payment for our services will not be required unless we obtain compensation for our clients.
