Hamilton Township Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Proudly serving all of New Jersey
Were You Injured While Walking in Mercer County? Call Us
At Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C., we have firsthand experience with the danger pedestrians face each day in Hamilton Township. As personal injury attorneys serving Mercer County, Gabriel Lependorf and David Silverstein have helped too many people who were hit by aggressive, distracted, or simply negligent drivers.
We are here to protect your rights after being hit by a vehicle in Hamilton Township. For a free consultation, please call (609) 240-0040 today.
Popular Landmarks in Hamilton
Since Hamilton Township is home to over 64 parks, you can walk in nature, far from the motor vehicle traffic of the roadways. Veterans Park, a 350-acre facility that includes the largest playground in New Jersey, is open to the public from dawn till dusk! Several wonderful community events take place there, especially the Independence Day fireworks show and Oktoberfest. A little farther out, Abbott Marshlands has walking trails at Roebling Memorial Park. These wetlands are a stunning sight, with many native plants and animals waiting to be admired. It’s a great walk for little ones, as there are various trails with different difficulty levels.
There are also historic houses and grounds that make for a great visit. Sayen House and Gardens is free to visitors. The yearly Azalea Festival takes place here for Mother’s Day. Kuser Mansion, situated on the grounds of Kuser Farm Park, hosts a Winter Wonderland come December, but offers tours all year long.
And of course, Hamilton has a thriving art scene throughout the township, from 42 acres of Grounds For Sculpture to the front of the public library! Pedestrians may find sculptures all the way through the commuter corridor.
There are also over 1 million square feet of shopping. Hamilton Marketplace, The Shoppes at Hamilton, the Route 33 retail corridor, Independence Plaza, Mercerville, and many shops in between give people the chance to buy anything they could possibly want for a home, a birthday, or a night on the town.
Pedestrians Aren’t Always Safe
But no matter where you go, keep an eye on the traffic. Drivers nowadays are often distracted, drowsy, or in a hurry. Pedestrians take the brunt of this negligence, since they are the ones likely to end up in a hospital bed – not the driver. We’ve seen accidents caused by:
- Impaired driving
- Distractions
- Fatigue
- Speeding
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Failure to look before turning at an intersection, especially a left turn
Though pedestrians do have to follow the rules of the road, such as using crosswalks whenever they are provided and obeying all traffic signs and signals, drivers must yield to them when push comes to shove. There is no excuse for a driver not checking twice or attempting to “cut off” a pedestrian trying to cross the street.
Who Could Be Held Liable?
Most of the time, a driver is at fault for your injuries. However, New Jersey does have a “comparative negligence” standard that allows you to be partially at fault for an accident, and still file a lawsuit for compensation. Your jury award will just be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re crossing the intersection of Hempstead Road at Arena Drive, known to be a dangerous place for pedestrians, and you are struck by a pickup truck, break your hip, and must be rushed to RWJ Hospital, you can file a claim against the pickup truck driver. However, a jury may decide you carry some fault for your own injuries – for instance, if you started to cross as the light was turning from red to green. Depending on how much “fault” they find with your conduct, they will reduce your overall compensation. $100,000 will become $90,000 if you were 10% at fault.
Regardless, you have the right to be compensated for your:
- medical bills, both current and future, including the costs of rehabilitation
- lost wages, even the loss of a job promotion or your overall earning potential
- pain and suffering, including your mental and emotional distress
- any property damage done while you were hit (for example, the collision crushed your mobile phone)
- and more, depending on the circumstances.
But perhaps a poorly designed road or intersection, a missing sign, or malfunctioning crosswalk signal was also to blame. In fact, overgrown foliage, if it covers a vital road sign, can also cause a crash. Those things are the responsibility of Hamilton Township itself, and a lawyer may be able to help you prove that the Township should be held responsible. These claims against the government are more difficult and have shorter filing deadlines, so speak to a lawyer right away!
Understanding your rights as the victim of an accident can be a challenge. For over 25 years, Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C., has been helping Hamilton Township pedestrian accident victims recover the money they need. Call (609) 240-0040 today to schedule your free consultation.
The firm’s principals, Gabriel R. Lependorf and David E. Silverstein, have each been representing injured victims in the State of New Jersey for over thirty years.
Call Our Office At (609) 240-0040 Today for Help
