Charges In One Of New Jersey’s Many Auto-Pedestrian Accidents

The daughter of a New Jersey hit-and-run victim, who was killed more that two years ago, has sued the driver of the vehicle along with several other parties deemed to have been involved. The New Jersey lawsuit was filed on behalf of herself and the legal estate of the deceased victim. The devastation brought about by auto-pedestrian accidents becomes especially evident in this case.

While the 48-year-old mother and her friend were crossing Belleville Avenue, she was hit by an SUV. The driver of the SUV, a 44-year-old male, reportedly failed to stop at the scene of the accident. The victim was transported to a medical center in the vicinity, where she later passed away due to the severity of the injuries she suffered in the collision.

The driver of the SUV originally pleaded not guilty to several charges. Two years later, he changed his plea to guilty on two of the charges: leaving the accident scene and vehicular homicide. He will be sentenced at the end of February and could face ten years of imprisonment.

The civil lawsuit filed by the victim’s daughter not only lists the SUV driver, but a number of other parties as well. In New Jersey, victims of auto-pedestrian accidents or their legal estates may have the right to seek compensation for their pain and suffering by means of a civil suit despite any criminal charges filed. The legal estate of this victim elected to file a wrongful death claim. The children of the deceased are claiming damages, legal fees, interest and related costs seeing as they were deprived of parental support, a mother’s nurturing and maintenance as a result of her death. A successful wrongful death claim may assist in providing monetary relief to the family after a difficult time.

Source: NorthJersey.com, Victim’s family files lawsuit in Belleville hit-and-run case, Roman J. Uschak, Feb. 20, 2014