A driver faces charges after she struck a pedestrian in a New Jersey Trader Joe’s parking lot. The accident occurred in Westwood, just north of Newark.
At around 3:18 p.m., the police department received several 911 calls about an accident on Irving Street. According to the Police Chief, when emergency response vehicles arrived to administer first aid, they found a 49-year-old woman who had suffered massive trauma. The woman was then airlifted to a medical center for treatment. She underwent treatment and is expected to survive her injuries.
The driver of the vehicle, a 75-year-old female resident of New Milford, was cited for careless driving. It was not stated if she also sustained injuries. Further details of the accident are still being investigated.
The incident shows how damaging a pedestrian accident can be. A pedestrian is no match for a motor vehicle weighing several tons moving at any high speed. For this reason, pedestrians usually suffer serious injuries like broken bones, back injury and head trauma if they are involved in an accident with a car. The distressing part is that such an accident is preventable. Pedestrians have the right of way, which means that drivers must yield to them.
In addition to respecting a pedestrian’s right of way a driver must avoid engaging in distracted driving, such as texting while driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If a driver fails to obey the rules, he or she can be cited for negligence and a pedestrian may successfully file a personal injury lawsuit. In doing so, an injured Newark pedestrian can attempt to hold a reckless driver legally responsible for the injuries and may be able to obtain compensation for the damages.
Source: North Jersey, “Westwood Car Crash Victim remains Hospitalized; Charges Filed Against 75-year-old Driver,” Lisa Spear, Nov. 14, 2013