A 27-year-old New Jersey man died after being hit by a car on Jan. 18. According to police, the incident occurred as the man was attempting to cross a street in Monroe Township at approximately 6:40 p.m.
The 59-year-old driver who was accused of striking the man was traveling east when he hit the man. The impact flung the pedestrian onto the hood of the vehicle. The man’s body remained on the vehicle’s hood for approximately 115 feet before landing 276 feet from the crash site.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The motorist did not suffer any injuries, police said. At the time the accident was reported, police had not pressed charges against the motorist and it was not known if they plan to do so.
Fatal pedestrian accidents can have a number of causes. In most cases, however, the driver who becomes involved in the incident fails to see the pedestrian or fails to yield to the person as they attempt to cross the street. Speed can play an important factor as drivers who are speeding may not be able to stop in time to avoid striking a pedestrian who is in their path.
When a pedestrian is killed in an auto accident, surviving family members may be able to pursue a lawsuit claiming wrongful death. This lawsuit, which is a type of civil suit, allows survivors to seek compensation for any monetary or non-monetary damages that they suffered as a result of the crash. For example, depending upon specific factors in the case, the compensation may cover certain medical expenses, funeral costs or loss of income.
Source: NJ.com, “Man dies after being struck by car in Monroe Township accident“, Andy Polhamus, January 20, 2014