Pedestrian Laws and Responsibilities in New Jersey: What You Need to Know
You are walking down a New Jersey street, and a car hits you. You break one of your legs and get a nasty concussion as a result of this injury.
Can you obtain compensation for this injury?
Understanding the state of New Jersey’s pedestrian laws and your responsibilities as a pedestrian makes it easier to answer that question.
If you want personalized guidance regarding a personal injury claim, you can speak with the Personal Injury Attorney at Rosengard Law Group by calling 856-284-6446 or contacting us right here. In the meantime, keep reading.
What Are New Jersey’s Pedestrian Laws?
The state of New Jersey has numerous pedestrian-related rules and guidelines. Some of the most notable New Jersey pedestrian laws are as follows:
- A driver must yield to pedestrians crossing marked and unmarked crosswalks. This is true of all crosswalks and all intersections; every driver must come to a complete stop so that a pedestrian can cross.
- A driver must approach, and pass, pedestrians by using due caution. Giving every pedestrian at least four feet of space, or reducing their speed to 25 miles, is advisable.
- A pedestrian can only cross the street at crosswalks and intersections that have been designated for that purpose. This means that crossing non-designated intersections is not advisable.
- A pedestrian can only cross a crosswalk or intersection if the traffic light or crosswalk signal indicates that they can do so. On the other hand, if there is no signal, then this indication isn’t necessary for crossing.
You can find one example for each of these guidelines in order below:
- A driver passes through a marked crosswalk while a pedestrian is crossing. And, in doing so, they are violating the law, which could lead to legal consequences.
- A driver moves their vehicle just one foot away from a pedestrian and then speeds away. This jeopardizes the pedestrian’s safety and is a violation of New Jersey’s laws.
- A pedestrian crosses at a random intersection that was not designated as a crosswalk. They are hit by a car and obtaining compensation is more difficult, since they violated New Jersey’s pedestrian rules.
- A pedestrian crosses an intersection. But,they do so when the light is green and they are hit by a car. Obtaining compensation is more challenging, due to them crossing at this time.
What Are New Jersey’s Pedestrian Responsibilities?
Pedestrians in the state of New Jersey have the following responsibilities:
- Always exercise due care for your safety.
- Always yield to drivers when crossing a road at points other than those within a marked/unmarked crosswalk or at an intersection.
- Always yield to drivers at crosswalks and intersections when there is no “Walk” signal.
- Always walk on sidewalks and other safe paths when they have been provided and are accessible.
- Always walk on either the left side of a highway or its shoulder if you are facing traffic and there is no sidewalk.
- Do not leave a place of safety — a curb, for example — by running into the path of an automobile that is so close to you it cannot stop or yield to you.
- Do not cross highways with roadways that are separated by median road barriers unless provisions that allow pedestrians to cross have been made.
If a pedestrian fails to honor these responsibilities, then they are violating the rules and regulations of New Jersey’s Safe Passing Law. This could lead to a fine and community service, among other possibilities.
How Does a Violation of New Jersey’s Pedestrian Laws Affect a Personal Injury Case?
A violation of New Jersey’s pedestrian laws and/or responsibilities can affect a personal injury case in many ways:
- A pedestrian may have a far more difficult time obtaining compensation for an accident if they were found to be legally responsible for it in one manner or another.
- A pedestrian may be on the hook for their medical expenses — or, at the very least, a portion of them — if their injuries are found to be the result of them violating pedestrian laws/responsibilities.
- A pedestrian may not be able to obtain any compensation at all if they are found to be more than 50% at fault for the accident that occurred.
Just as an example of the above, if a pedestrian crosses an intersection when the light is green, and they are hit as a result, then they may not be able to obtain any compensation.
Need Help with a Pedestrian Injury? Consult with an Attorney Today
If you are a pedestrian who was injured by a motor vehicle in New Jersey, you may be entitled to compensation.
Call Rosengard Law Group at 856-284-6446 or contact us to Get a Free Case Evaluation.
We will review the pedestrian laws and responsibilities that pertain to your situation. That way, you can determine whether you have a case and, if you do, what your next steps should be.
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