I Got Hit by a Car While Walking … What Are My Options?
Pedestrians are at great risk for serious injury when involved in crashes with a motor vehicle – of any size. Compared to all the protection provided to people inside a vehicle when involved in a crash (layers of metal and fiberglass, airbags, and seatbelts), pedestrians have no protection when struck by a vehicle.
If you have been hit by a car while walking, you may be thinking about what your options are and what you need to do. Below is an overview of your legal options.
Legal Options After a Pedestrian-Involved Car Crash
If you have been struck by a motor vehicle and injured while walking as a pedestrian, you may be wondering who will pay your medical bills and cover your other damages resulting from the accident. The quickest way to get compensation for your accident-related losses is through an insurance claim. Hiring an experienced New Jersey pedestrian accident attorney will help you negotiate the maximum damages you deserve. If negotiations fail, your attorney can file a lawsuit in civil court.
What Is the Value of My Pedestrian Car Accident Claim?
One of the most common questions from injury claimants after a pedestrian accident is how much their claim is worth. This is not an easy question to answer because the value of any injury claim depends on a number of different factors. Some common factors that value your claim include:
- the clarity of the fault picture when it comes to the underlying accident
- the nature and extent of the claimant’s injuries, including whether they are long-term (or even permanent)
- the impact of the accident on the claimant’s livelihood and everyday life, and
- the mental and physical pain and suffering arising from the claimant’s injuries and the medical care necessary to treat those injuries.
Your New Jersey pedestrian accident attorney will expertly handle your accident claim to ensure you get the maximum monetary damages you deserve from the at-fault party who caused the accident.
Will Insurance Cover a Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident
If the driver who struck you as a pedestrian fled the scene, you may be wondering who will help pay for your damages. Depending on the coverage on your own insurance policy, you may be able to seek damages from your own carrier.
New Jersey requires drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP). This coverage is designed to help pay for your injuries and any injuries, even if you were a pedestrian, regardless of who is at fault for an accident.
Call a New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If you or someone you know has suffered any type of injury in a pedestrian accident caused by the reckless or negligent actions of another party, an experienced New Jersey pedestrian accident injury attorney can help. Call Beninato & Matrafajlo Attorneys at Law, LLC at 908-248-4404 to schedule a free, complimentary consultation with our legal team today.
Dan T. Matrafajlo, Esq. is the Managing Member and Lead Partner at Beninato & Matrafajlo, Attorneys at Law, LLC, a New Jersey-based personal injury law firm with offices in Elizabeth and East Brunswick. With over two decades of experience representing clients in complex matters—including motor vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death cases—he has recovered over $100 million on behalf of his clients and is known for securing significant results. He has also helped shape New Jersey personal injury law through notable Appellate Division decisions such as Hardison v. King and Frenklakh v. Lojek, with his litigation work featured in the New Jersey Law Journal, underscoring his authority in the field.
Mr. Matrafajlo was recognized as a Super Lawyers® Rising Stars honoree from 2012 to 2017 and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum—an honor reserved for attorneys who have achieved multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Combining deep legal expertise with a client-focused approach, he provides strategic, results-driven representation while guiding clients through every stage of the legal process. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and is admitted to practice in both New Jersey and New York.
