According to police officers in Fair Lawn, they received a call about a pedestrian accident on Berdan Avenue at Sunnyside Drive at around 6:30 p.m. Witnesses at the scene said that the victim, identified as a 64 year-old man from Fair Lawn, was walking his dog and was crossing Berdan Avenue with his dog, when he was struck by a 2006 Ford Escape.
The victim suffered severe head and leg injuries and was quickly taken to St. Joseph’s Medical Center for treatment.
The 61 year-old driver of the 2006 Ford Escape was also hospitalized with chest and arm injuries. There was also a 60 year-old passenger who did not sustain any injuries from the incident.
The dog, which was not injured in the accident, led authorities to the victim’s residence about five blocks from the scene of the crash. The authorities were then able to notify the family of what has happened.
We would like to send our sincerest sympathies to the family of the victim and the driver involved. We hope they both recover well from the accident and will be back to their daily lives as soon as possible.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents are one of the most fatal types of crashes that happen on the roadways of New Jersey. In a report compiled by the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit says that in 2017, there was a total of 179 pedestrian crashes which resulted in 35 injuries and 183 fatalities. 91 of these fatalities happened because the pedestrian was crossing at a prohibited area, and 40 fatal crashes happened while the pedestrian was crossing at a marked crosswalk.
New Jersey law states that a driver of a vehicle must stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk, but shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals. Pedestrians must also obey pedestrian signals and use crosswalks at signalized intersections. Drivers and pedestrians who fail to follow these laws may face a hefty fine.
We urge drivers and pedestrians alike to observe and follow laws so that the road can be safer for everyone.
If someone you care about was killed or severely injured in an accident, there may be a lot going through your head. The NJ injury attorneys of Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers have helped people like you fight for justice. We will discuss all of your legal options with you, free of charge. Call (973) 364-8300 to get in touch with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.
Note: This blog reports on the types of cases our firm has extensive experience handling. It is painful to learn of the prevalence of these serious accidents, and it is our sincere hope that future catastrophes can be avoided. Our blog posts are written from scouring recent news stories. As more information is revealed, these stories may be updated. If the information in this blog article is outdated or false, please let us know so we can add updates or corrections.
Disclaimer: By showing the frequency of these serious accidents, Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers hopes that more will be done to prevent them. Another aim is to give readers information that can be used to help them reduce the likelihood they are involved in a serious accident. Content on our blog is not legal advice.