The driver responsible for a fatal New Jersey pedestrian accident that killed a 13-year-old Little Egg Harbor girl has been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI). An Asbury Park Press article reports that while an investigation into the incident is ongoing, it has been reported that the 47-year-old motorist hit the young girl as she was walking along a roadside to a friend’s house with another girl.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office stated that blood tests for the driver will be evaluated to determine if any additional charges will be filed in relation to the fatal pedestrian accident.
Pedestrian accidents, such as the one in this case, may result in serious injury or even the loss of life due largely to the fact that pedestrians are unprotected while along a roadway. Some factors contributing to the occurrence of these unfortunate accidents include distracted driving and inattention, vehicle defects, speeding, dangerous road conditions and drug or alcohol impaired driving. Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that in 2009, 4,092 pedestrians were killed and about 59,000 were injured in accidents throughout the United States. During this same time period, on average, a pedestrian died every two hours and a pedestrian was injured every nine minutes.
Family members of pedestrians killed or persons injured in accidents may have a legal right to recover compensation for their injuries, damages and loses from responsible parties. The New Jersey pedestrian accident lawyers at Blume Forte have decades of experience protecting the rights of pedestrian accident victims. For a no-cost consultation about your possible case, call us at 973-845-4421.