There are certain rules and regulations of the road in Cherry Hill that may be important in a pedestrian accident case. For example, in Cherry Hill, drivers of vehicles have to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. If a driver is approaching a crosswalk, and there is a pedestrian entering that crosswalk, the driver must stop. That is the law in Cherry Hill, as well as some other towns throughout the state of New Jersey.
As such, it is important to be aware of the impact of traffic laws on Cherry Hill pedestrian accident cases to help strengthen your claim for damages. If an accident has occurred, and you think there was a violation of these laws, contact an experienced pedestrian injury attorney right away to begin your case.
Traffic Laws
Traffic laws in Cherry Hill apply to pedestrians in the same way that they apply to motor vehicle drivers, with the exception of a pedestrian in a crosswalk who has the right of way, but otherwise, pedestrians must adhere to the rules of the road like motorists.
The most important reason that a pedestrian should follow applicable traffic laws is to minimize the risk of being injured, as those who are struck by motor vehicles typically suffer catastrophic injuries because they do not have the protection of a vehicle around them.
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Comparative Negligence
In Cherry Hill, there is a concept called comparative negligence used in personal injury cases. If a pedestrian is comparatively negligent for not following traffic laws, they will be assigned a percentage of responsibility. For example, if a jury finds a pedestrian to be 40 percent responsible, they will recover 60 percent of their total damages. If a jury looks at the incident and decides that the pedestrian is 51 percent at fault, they will make zero recoveries.
A pedestrian who fails to follow the appropriate traffic laws in Cherry Hill risks being found partially or completely responsible for an accident. For example, a pedestrian who crosses a roadway outside of a crosswalk may be held comparatively negligent in the event of an accident for failing to follow the law. As such, it is very important for pedestrians in Cherry Hill to follow these traffic laws.
Crosswalk Laws
In Cherry Hill, crosswalks are clearly marked on the roadway for not only pedestrians, but for drivers as well. There are many types of crosswalks, some with painted lines and signals that go along with traffic signals, others with crossing guards who help maintain the crosswalk. While there are many different crosswalks, the rules remain the same. A driver in a motor vehicle has a duty to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and conversely, a pedestrian has the responsibility to use crosswalks when available, to be mindful of their surroundings, and to be reasonable in their attempt to cross roadways.
There are major roadways that go through route 70, which runs east and west. There are many crosswalks that are regulated either by a traffic device or road paintings. Route 38 that travels through 30 has crosswalks, too, and downtown Cherry Hill has a number of areas where crosswalks are painted on the roads that are controlled by traffic signals.
Pedestrian accidents occur in or around crosswalks because many drivers turn on red without paying attention to the intersecting roadway. Motorists turn left through an intersection or disregard the light and/or the crosswalk and do not yield the right of way. Many pedestrian accidents involve individuals attempting to proceed across the crosswalk who are hit by a driver not yielding the right of way. Although pedestrians walking in a crosswalk have the right of way, they cannot simply close their eyes and proceed, they have an obligation to make reasonable observations.
For more details on how traffic laws may impact a particular Cherry Hill pedestrian accident case, get in touch with our firm today.
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