While it is common knowledge that motorists must follow safety laws, such as yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, pedestrians must also abide by traffic laws. If they do not, and an accident occurs, a jury may assign partial blame to the pedestrians, which can reduce the amount of compensation they receive.
If you follow the traffic laws for Paramus pedestrians but a negligent motorist causes you injuries, our experienced team of attorneys at Fredson Stratmore Bitterman, LLC, offers you the attention you deserve. We offer the personalized atmosphere of a small firm supported by the resources typically available to a bigger firm. We can help you restore your confidence after an accident with a free, confidential consultation.
What Are Some Traffic Laws Pedestrians Must Follow?
According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and Title 39 of the New Jersey Statutes, pedestrians must obey traffic control devices and use crosswalks when they are available. Violations of pedestrian traffic laws can result in fines and may affect liability if an accident occurs. Some rules that pedestrians in Paramus must follow include:
- If crosswalks are not available, always cross at corners instead of the middle of a block
- If crossing with no crosswalk, yield the right of way to vehicles
- When crossing, be aware of turning cars
- Walk facing traffic
- Obey traffic lights and signals, such as the “Walk” and “Do Not Walk” signal
- Look both ways before crossing a street
- Never assume a vehicle will stop for you; remain vigilant
Some tips are not traffic laws but can help Paramus pedestrians stay safer. Consider walking with others instead of alone at night and wear reflective clothing so motorists can see you in the dark. Although police cannot ticket you as a drunk pedestrian, they can do so if you engage in disorderly conduct while intoxicated. Staying sober on your walk will keep your reaction time sharp and help you avoid being struck by a motorist.
Statute of Limitations
Even if you are a pedestrian in Paramus who diligently follows traffic safety rules, a negligent motorist may still hit you. If your attorney determines that filing a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf is your best option, the state imposes a time limit, called the statute of limitations, to file that claim. For pedestrian accidents and most negligence cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim or lose the opportunity. Some exceptions apply, such as filing against a government entity whose employee crashes into you while on the job. Contact Fredson Stratmore Bitterman, LLC, and we can evaluate your case at no charge to you.
Modified Comparative Negligence
If you are a pedestrian in Paramus who fails to follow road safety regulations and receives injuries in an accident, the doctrine of modified comparative negligence may apply to your case. The jury will assign your portion of the blame, but you can still collect a damages award if you are less than 50 percent responsible for the accident. The court will reduce your compensation by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you dash out from between two parked cars to cross the street in the middle of the block and the motorist who hits you is speeding, the jury could assign 25 percent of the blame to you, and, for example, reduce your $1 million damages award to $750,000. These figures are provided for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the actual or potential amount of compensation that could be awarded in a pedestrian accident case.
Call a Paramus Attorney if You Are a Pedestrian Injured in Violation of Traffic Safety Laws
Pedestrian accidents in which a negligent motorist crashes into you are always severe, and unfortunately, sometimes deadly. If you sustain injuries while following the traffic laws for Paramus pedestrians, you could recover your economic and non-economic losses with guidance from our skilled attorneys at Fredson Stratmore Bitterman, LLC. Let us get you the best results. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
