Elizabeth Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

An Elizabeth Pedestrian Accident Attorney Who Knows What Your Case Could Be Worth

Getting hit by a car while walking can leave you with severe injuries, medical bills, and lost income before you even know where to turn. An experienced Elizabeth Personal Injury Lawyer can guide you through the legal process, protecting you from insurance adjusters who may try to take advantage of the stress you face in the days after a crash.

An Elizabeth pedestrian accident lawyer at Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss builds your claim from day one by gathering medical records, obtaining witness statements, and securing vital scene evidence before it disappears.

You deserve a clear path forward, not more uncertainty, and that starts with a conversation about what happened to you.

Pedestrian Accident Settlements and Verdicts Our Firm Has Won

Adam D. Cahn secured a $4.8 million settlement for a pedestrian who suffered multiple leg, pelvic, and abdominal injuries after being struck and dragged by a car exiting a parking garage. In a separate case, he reached a $5.5 million settlement for the family of a tourist who was struck and killed by a dump truck.

Both cases turned on the kind of evidence a pedestrian accident attorney in Elizabeth needs from the start, including witness statements, vehicle data, and a clear medical record of the harm caused. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.

The Pedestrian Injury Cases Our Elizabeth Attorneys Take On

Pedestrian crashes happen in a lot of different ways, and the details often decide who can be held responsible. Our pedestrian accident injury lawyers handle:

• Crosswalk and intersection collisions, including crashes near busy corridors like Routes 1&9 and North Avenue
• Hit-and-run accidents where the driver left the scene
• Parking lot and garage accidents involving a car backing out or pulling through
• School zone and sidewalk accidents involving distracted or speeding drivers
• Truck and bus accidents, which often cause the most severe injuries
• Accidents involving left-turning vehicles at signaled intersections

Matthew Sakkas, who has practiced law since 1992, spent his early years representing insurance companies in premises liability and construction cases before shifting his practice to represent injured people instead. That background means he has seen how insurers build a defense, and he uses it to anticipate their arguments in your case.

The Deadlines and Fault Rules That Make Elizabeth Pedestrian Collision Cases Urgent

New Jersey law requires drivers to stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, and to yield to a pedestrian crossing at an intersection even without painted lines, under New Jersey Statutes Section 39:4-36. When a crash happens inside a crosswalk, the law allows an inference that the driver failed to use proper care, which can be a powerful tool in your claim.

Outside of a crosswalk, a pedestrian has to yield to traffic instead, and fault often gets split between both sides under New Jersey’s modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover damages as long as you are found 50% or less at fault, though your compensation drops by your share of the blame. You also have a limited window to act.

Under New Jersey Statutes Section 2A:14-2, most personal injury lawsuits in New Jersey must be filed within two years of the crash. Claims against a public entity, like the City of Elizabeth, require formal notice within 90 days, plus a lawsuit within two years. Missing either deadline can end your case before it starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is at fault if I was hit while jaywalking in Elizabeth?

Fault is not automatic either way. Drivers must still use reasonable care for every pedestrian on the roadway, even one who crosses outside a marked crosswalk. If you were jaywalking, an insurance company will likely argue you share part of the blame.

What if the driver who hit me left the scene?

Hit-and-run pedestrian accidents are common, especially at night. If the driver cannot be found, your own uninsured motorist coverage, or a resident relative’s policy, may step in to cover your medical bills and lost wages. Reporting the crash to Elizabeth police right away helps preserve evidence like nearby surveillance video before it gets erased.

What if a broken signal or poor road design contributed to my accident?

A city or county agency can share responsibility if a malfunctioning traffic signal, missing crosswalk markings, or an unsafe intersection design played a role in your crash. These claims have a shorter deadline than a standard case, since you must file a formal notice with the public entity within 90 days of the accident.

How much does it cost to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer?

We take pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing upfront and owe no fee unless we recover money for you. A consultation to review your case costs nothing as well.

Where would my Elizabeth pedestrian accident case be filed?

Lawsuits over a pedestrian crash in Elizabeth are filed in the Civil Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Union Vicinage, based at the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street. Claims involving a driver employed by a public entity or a government vehicle follow the shorter 90-day notice period described above.

What should I do right after being hit as a pedestrian?

Get medical care first, even if your injuries seem minor at the time. Ask police to file a report, get the names of any witnesses, and photograph the scene and your injuries if you are able. Avoid giving a recorded statement to the driver’s insurance company until you have talked with a lawyer.

Start Your Elizabeth Pedestrian Injury Claim With a Free Case Review

A pedestrian crash can upend your finances and your health at the same time, and the two-year filing deadline will not wait while you heal. Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss has recovered more than $700 million for injured clients, and we want to hear what happened to you.

Contact us today for a free consultation and find out what your pedestrian accident claim could be worth. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.