In New Jersey, pedestrian accidents are common, and when they happen, the injuries can be catastrophic. When a driver fails to slow down, pay attention, or follow the rules of the road, the consequences for a pedestrian can be devastating.
No one should suffer because of a driver’s negligence. When medical bills, time off from work, pain, and uncertainty begin to pile up, it’s important for injured pedestrians and their families to understand their rights under New Jersey and New York laws. Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. has been representing injured pedestrians in both states for over 40 years, protecting their claims and pursuing the compensation deserved after suffering due to a preventable accident.
The firm has handled many complex pedestrian accident cases, including a Weehawken, New Jersey case where a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle while crossing Boulevard East near Columbia Terrace. The crash caused catastrophic injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, kidney trauma, and a serious knee ligament injury that required surgery.
Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. Partners Steven Benvenisti, Esq., and Luis L. Haquia, Esq., won a $5.1 million settlement for the injured pedestrian and his family after building a strong, evidence-based case against the negligent driver.
A $5.1 Million Settlement After a Preventable Weehawken Pedestrian Accident
According to the crash investigation, the driver who was traveling south on Boulevard East in Weehawken, NJ, claimed he saw only a blur just before he struck the pedestrian. However, the experienced legal team investigated evidence, hired experts, and examined witnesses to prove that, beyond a reasonable doubt, the crash was preventable.
The firm hired an accident reconstruction expert to evaluate the drivers’ sight distance, speed, stopping distance, vehicle damage, lighting, and driver response. The expert performed nighttime visibility testing at the crash location using a surrogate pedestrian dressed similarly to the client at the time of the accident. The testing and results concluded that an attentive driver should have been able to see the pedestrian from at least 150 feet away before impact.
That finding became a key part of the case and helped to prove the driver had enough time and distance to see the pedestrian, react, and stop before striking him. By combining expert reconstruction, witness accounts, police findings, vehicle damage analysis, and medical evidence, the New Jersey pedestrian accident attorneys, Steven Benvenisti, Esq., and Luis Haquia, Esq., proved that the driver was responsible and how it affected the client’s life, winning a $5.1 million settlement for the pedestrian and his family.
Why Pedestrian Accidents Are a Serious Problem in New Jersey
Across the country, pedestrian crashes remain a major roadway safety issue, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting that thousands of pedestrians are killed and tens of thousands are injured in traffic crashes each year.
Especially in New Jersey’s densely populated areas like Weehawken, Hoboken, Jersey City, Union City, North Bergen, and other parts of Hudson County pedestrians face serious risks. These areas have heavy foot traffic, narrow roads, bus stops, commuter routes, hills, curves, and busy intersections where drivers and pedestrians share limited space. In areas like Boulevard East in Weehawken, a distracted, inattentive driver can quickly cause devastating harm.
New Jersey’s Target Zero Action Plan reported that from 2023 to 2024, overall pedestrian fatalities increased by 32%. The same plan reported that from 2021 to 2024, pedestrians and bicyclists made up about one-third of people killed in New Jersey traffic crashes.
This is why New Jersey law prioritizes pedestrian safety and creates strict rules for drivers. Under New Jersey’s pedestrian safety law, N.J.S.A. 39:4-36, motorists must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in marked crosswalks, and drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing within unmarked crosswalks at intersections. When drivers fail to follow these safety rules, speed, or ignore hazards, they can be held responsible for the injuries they cause.
Common Injuries Caused by Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians have little protection when they are struck by a car, truck, bus, or commercial vehicle. Even a lower-speed impact can cause serious trauma because the force of the crash is absorbed directly by the body.
Common pedestrian accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions and brain bleeds
- Skull and facial fractures
- Spinal injuries
- Pelvic fractures
- Broken ribs, arms, legs, and hips
- Internal organ injuries
- Knee, shoulder, and ligament damage
- Nerve injuries Scarring and road rash
- Emotional trauma and post-accident anxiety
In the Weehawken, NJ, case, the pedestrian was unconscious when police arrived and had to be transported to Jersey City Medical Center for emergency treatment. The client suffered head, spinal, orthopedic, internal, and right knee ligament injuries, with the knee injury later requiring surgery. The impact of the crash affected nearly every part of the client’s daily life, which is often the reality after a serious pedestrian accident. For many injured pedestrians, recovery is not short-term and can involve months or years of medical treatment, financial pressure, physical limitations, and uncertainty, all due to a preventable act of negligence.
How a New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Builds a Strong Case
In a serious pedestrian accident case, compensation is not based on just the injury itself, but on whether the documentation and evidence clearly establish how the crash occurred, why the driver was responsible, and how the injuries affected work, mobility, independence, and daily life.
An experienced New Jersey pedestrian accident attorney knows how to identify the evidence that can make or break a claim. In a serious crash, that may include the driver’s speed, visibility, lighting, roadway design, witness statements, video footage, vehicle damage, crash data, and whether the driver was distracted, impaired, fatigued, or failing to keep a proper lookout. When liability is disputed, accident reconstruction experts can explain sight distance, stopping distance, reaction time, and whether the driver had enough time to avoid hitting the pedestrian.
This evidence is critical to a claim because insurance companies often look for reasons to reduce or deny compensation. A strong pedestrian accident case must undoubtedly prove what happened, why the driver was negligent, how the crash caused the injuries, and what losses the injured person suffered. The stronger the investigation, the harder it is for the defense to shift blame or minimize the harm.
Depending on the case, compensation after a pedestrian accident may include:
- Emergency medical care and hospital bills
- Surgery, rehabilitation, and physical therapy
- Future medical treatment and long-term care needs
- Lost wages and loss of future earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Permanent injury, disability, or scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Home modifications, assistive devices, or daily support
- Funeral expenses and other wrongful death damages when a pedestrian accident is fatal
The New Jersey pedestrian accident attorneys and partners at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. are recognized leaders in serious personal injury litigation, including pedestrian accidents, car accidents, truck, bus, and commercial vehicle crashes, construction site accidents, and other cases involving negligence. Many of the firm’s lawyers are certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as Civil Trial Attorneys, a distinction held by fewer than 2% of licensed attorneys in the state. Throughout its history, Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. has secured more than $1 billion in settlements and jury verdicts for over 40,000 clients and families harmed by negligence. The firm represents injured clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning no legal fee is owed unless compensation is recovered.
Don’t Be Denied Compensation – Contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. For Help
Pedestrian accident cases are often more complex than they first appear. Drivers may deny fault, insurance companies may question injuries, and defense teams can attempt to shift blame onto the pedestrian. These arguments can be disputed when they are met with strong facts, medical proof, and experienced, detailed legal preparation.
For pedestrians injured in Weehawken, Hudson County, or anywhere in New Jersey, early legal guidance can make a meaningful difference. A Weehawken pedestrian accident lawyer or New Jersey pedestrian accident attorney can investigate the crash, preserve important evidence, calculate the full damages, and negotiate from a position of strength to secure the full scope of recovery deserved for suffering preventable negligence.
Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. offers free consultations or second opinions to pedestrians and families seeking answers after a serious accident. When negligence causes life-changing harm, injured victims deserve a legal team that knows how to prove fault, document damages, and fight for the full compensation available under New Jersey law.
