Fatal Drunk Driving Crash Outside Elementary School in Newark, NJ

On July 27, 2025, two pedestrians were struck by a work van in front of George Washington Carver Elementary School in Newark, New Jersey, in a drunk driving hit-and-run. The Essex County Prosecutors’ Office has confirmed that one of the victims tragically lost their life, while the other suffered serious injuries. The driver, who was on the job at the time of the accident, fled the scene but later returned. Prosecutors have since charged him with multiple offenses, including first-degree vehicular homicide while driving under the influence in a school zone, leaving the scene of a fatal crash, and endangering an injured victim.

The drunk driver will inevitably be facing two types of legal prosecution: criminal prosecution and prosecution of a civil claim for money damages. In other words, he and his employer will be sued in the Superior Court of New Jersey, in what’s called a “Civil Action.” This is because the criminal justice system prosecutes crimes, and the civil justice system corrects harm and losses by recovering money.

At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., this case hits close to home because our partner, Steven Benvenisti, Esq., knows firsthand the pain and devastation drunk driving can cause. As a college student, Steven was hit by a drunk driver while crossing the street and was left with severe, life-threatening injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and fractured legs. He was in a coma for ten days and remained in rehab and physical therapy for nearly a year. Miraculously, Steven survived, and even more, he thrived. His experience surviving a drunk driving crash motivated him to finish college and attend law school even after suffering a traumatic brain injury. Today, he has dedicated his professional life to advocating for and representing victims of drunk driving crashes and victims of others’ negligence.

When asked about the tragedy in Newark, NJ, Steven Benvenisti, Esq., stated:

“There is nothing more heartbreaking than a life lost, or a serious injury, caused by a drunk driver. Every drunk driving crash is a completely preventable tragedy. Sadly, in our country, we lose over 13,000 people every year due to drunk drivers, with hundreds of thousands being seriously injured. Behind every statistic is a family shattered, dreams cut short, and a community left grieving. We must never stop fighting for accountability, justice, and education to ensure that no one else ever has to endure this senseless pain.”

Every drunk driving accident is preventable. Every victim matters. And every family deserves justice.

These incidents cause serious heartbreak and lasting tragedy. If someone you love has died because of a drunk driver, or has been injured as a pedestrian, you have every right to be outraged, and you deserve justice. For over 40 years, Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. has built a reputation for results and compassion, recovering over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for our more than 35,000 clients served. We understand the heartbreak of losing someone suddenly and senselessly, and we are here to help victims and their families, hold wrongdoers accountable.

Proving Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident Involving a Work Vehicle

Drunk driving cases with company vehicles add another layer of legal complexity to an already complex situation. When an employee causes harm on the job, the employer can often also be held legally responsible under the doctrine of vicarious liability. In this case, because the driver was on the job and driving a company-owned van, the employer may be legally liable for damages as well. This is a critical factor in pedestrian and wrongful death cases. New Jersey law allows victims to recover compensation, not only from the driver’s insurance but also potentially from the employer’s commercial liability coverage. Holding both parties accountable increases the chance of securing full and fair compensation.

Pedestrians have strict protection under New Jersey law. Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks (N.J.S.A. 39:4-35), not to drive while distracted or texting (N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.3), and never operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50). When these basic laws are ignored, injuries or deaths often follow.

For families who have tragically lost a loved one, New Jersey’s Wrongful Death Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:31-1) allows them to seek compensation for the loss they suffered due to another’s negligence. The victims and their families have the legal right to pursue damages for:

• Medical expenses and future care
• Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
• Lost income and financial support (if the person who died helped provide for the family)
• Conscious pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Punitive damages if the death is alcohol related

The legal process can be emotional and exhausting, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Having a skilled New Jersey personal injury attorney on your side, someone who understands the legal system, the insurance tactics, and the emotional toll, can make all the difference in how you recover and rebuild.

How a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Recovering from a drunk driving accident or the loss of a loved one is overwhelming, dealing with grief, medical bills, legal confusion, and emotional trauma, all at once. Having an Essex County personal injury attorney or wrongful death attorney ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your best interests, so you can focus on healing. An experienced New Jersey drunk driving accident attorney will investigate the crash, preserve critical evidence like witness statements and police reports, and help determine the full value of your claim, so you don’t settle for less than you deserve.

Steven Benvenisti, Esq., is one of New Jersey’s most respected voices in drunk driving accident prevention and is a nationally known advocate for change. Not only has he dedicated his work to helping families and victims as a certified Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, but he went further, becoming the President of the

New Jersey Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Co-Chairman of MADD National. Since his presidency, he has served on the National Board of Directors of Mothers Against Driving and has been an influential force in changing New Jersey and other jurisdictions’ laws to reduce the risk of injuries caused by intoxicated drivers. He is also an expert in brain injury cases, having suffered one himself, and has served as President of the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey.

Over the years, Steven has successfully represented clients in lawsuits involving pedestrian, wrongful death, and drunk driving injury cases, helping clients rebuild their lives, just as he once did. Alongside other attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., he has secured life-changing results for those affected by drunk drivers. Below are a few of Steven’s and the firm’s most impactful drunk driving cases:

• $20.4 million settlement for a woman riding in a cab struck by a drunk driver.
• $950,000 settlement for a teen severely injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver.
• $787,500 settlement for a man who suffered head and spine injuries after a drunk driver hit his car head-on.

Steven’s story and passion for change only drive our firm’s commitment to hold drunk drivers accountable and seek justice for victims and their families.

To read Steven’s story, “Spring Break, a True Story of Hope and Determination”(2012), available through Amazon or directly to families in need of comfort and motivation by calling him on his cell phone (201) 500-LAWS.

If You’ve Been Injured, We’re Here to Help

At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., we bring not only our legal experience, but also a deep sense of care to every case we handle. No one should have to suffer because of someone else’s reckless actions. If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, if you’ve lost someone to a drunk driver’s negligence, or if you have questions about your rights after an accident caused by a drunk driver, we are here to help you. Never settle for less than you deserve. Call our New Jersey personal injury lawyers today to get started on your case, so you can start moving forward.

Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. offers free consultations and second opinions, and has offices throughout New Jersey and New York City. Clients seeking experienced personal injury lawyers in Teaneck, NJ, or the surrounding Bergen County and Essex County areas can contact us at 1-800-LAW-2000 or via email at info@dsslaw.com.