While Mt. Laurel Township is much more suburban, there are still plenty of sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians to use while getting around the area on foot. Just like in urban areas, drivers around Mt. Laurel are expected to keep an eye out for pedestrians and yield to them when required by state law—but not every driver meets this duty of care all the time.
If you’ve been injured as a pedestrian in a traffic accident caused by a negligent driver, you likely have grounds to file a civil suit against the driver who hit you with a skilled personal injury attorney’s help. Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers have years of experience fighting for people like you and getting good case results on their behalf. A Mt. Laurel pedestrian accident lawyer from our team can be the ally you need to get every cent of compensation you deserve for your accident-related damages.
Are Drivers Always Liable for Pedestrian Collisions?
The fact that pedestrians are at much higher risk of harm in wrecks doesn’t mean courts will automatically side with them during a civil claim filed over the incident. If you want to get paid fairly for losses stemming from this sort of incident, you need to prove the driver who struck you was negligent in some way and that their negligence was the main and direct cause of the losses you’re seeking compensation for.
A negligent driver isn’t always the only person who holds civil liability for a pedestrian accident. For example, if a crash happens partially because the stoplights at an intersection were broken, a pedestrian accident attorney could help you name a Mt. Laurel government or municipal agency as a defendant in your claim since their negligent failure to keep public roads in safe condition contributed to causing your injuries.
Fighting Accusations of Comparative Fault
Being hurt as a pedestrian in a motor vehicle collision doesn’t make you immune from being found partially at fault for causing that accident in the first place. For instance, if you were hit by a car after stepping into the street outside of a crosswalk, a court might assign you a percentage of comparative fault for the injuries you ultimately suffered.
New Jersey law would allow the court to reduce the total amount of money you’re able to get for your damages in proportion to that percentage or even throw your case out entirely if you hold more than 50 percent of the total fault for your accident. This is just one of the many legal and procedural roadblocks a seasoned lawyer will help you navigate around during your pedestrian injury claim in Mt. Laurel.
Get Help from a Mt. Laurel Pedestrian Accident Attorney With Your Civil Claim
It’s not hard to understand why pedestrians involved in auto accidents are a lot more likely to suffer serious injuries as a result compared to people with seatbelts, airbags, and the frame of their vehicle protecting them from harm. What can be harder to understand is the web of rules and restrictions New Jersey law might put in your way while you’re trying to get fair reimbursement for the injuries and losses you’ve sustained after being hit by a reckless or careless driver.
Fortunately, you have help available from a respected Mt. Laurel pedestrian accident lawyer who knows how to fight and win on behalf of regular people just like you. Call today to learn more about your legal options.
