While there are many ways a pedestrian accident can happen, the underlying cause is always the same: negligence. In some rare instances, there can be road or weather conditions that cause an accident, such as: Inclement weather causing poor visibility Arterial roadways Poorly indicated construction zones Driving recklessly for the weather conditions Unmarked streets or crosswalks Even in these cases, drivers must decide to adjust their driving habits to account for the conditions. Drivers should also decide to pull over if they do not think their skills are adequate to get through the current situation. Their failure to adjust their driving or pull over can lead to a tragic accident involving a pedestrian. Driver error or negligence manifests in other ways, such as: Running a red light: The lights at intersections indicate who has the right of way. When the light is red, that means that vehicles cannot proceed. When drivers blatantly ignore the glaring red light, they place everyone around them in danger. When a driver takes a red light, other vehicles with a green light are already on the road. Similarly, pedestrians are already making their way into the crosswalk. Ignoring a stop sign: Various streets do not need a traffic light but instead use stop signs. Reckless drivers will ignore these stop signs, which leads to a pedestrian suffering harm. Speeding: A driver who is speeding will be unable to see pedestrians or hazards on the road. When they see a pedestrian crossing, it is too late to stop, and the pedestrian will be seriously injured. Speeding also involves a driver going too fast for the current weather or road conditions. The driver can be going at the speed limit, but it is too fast for a slippery road. DUI: Any kind of impairment is dangerous, but alcohol is one of the worst. The driver’s vision and judgment are questionable. Many drivers will think that a pedestrian is another object and will not show them the duty of care they deserve. A drunk driving accident can result in not only civil penalties but criminal penalties as well. Distractions: There are many distractions that a driver will encounter. The key is to minimize these distractions and not take their hands, eyes, or mind off the road. A text message takes a driver’s attention off the road for 4.6 seconds. Within those few seconds, a serious accident can occur. Ignoring right of way: New Jersey has very particular right of way laws regarding pedestrian safety. Many drivers decide to drive the moment the pedestrian steps past their vehicle, but New Jersey law requires motorists to stop until the pedestrian finishes crossing the intersection. Drivers who do not give pedestrians the right of way when it is necessary cause fatalities. Road conditions: New Jersey experiences various weather conditions throughout the year. Local municipalities are in charge of keeping roads clear. One of the few times a government agency can be held liable for an accident is when there are unsafe road conditions, and they are incorrectly fixed. Night-time driving: Drivers are more reckless at night. They assume fewer vehicles and people are on the road and are more likely to drive under the influence, speed, or participate in other reckless behavior. Visibility is lower at night; instead of driving recklessly, motorists should drive more carefully. Drowsy driving: Sleep is necessary for our health and cognitive function. Adults must get a minimum of eight hours of sleep for a full rest. Anything less than that can cause a driver to experience fatigue. Usually, drowsy drivers are awake for over 18 hours a day. However, anytime a driver doesn't get sufficient sleep and gets behind the wheel, they endanger the lives of everyone around them. Drowsy driving has the same effect as driving while drinking. Specific careers put drivers at higher risk for drowsy driving. However, tired drivers should not get behind the wheel. They will need to get some rest before they can drive. Reckless driving: A general disregard for traffic laws is reckless driving. Many situations fall under the reckless driving umbrella. Some drivers are in such a hurry to get to their destination that they will weave in and out of heavy traffic or change lanes without signaling. Drivers will also follow too closely and try to intimidate others on the road. These and other reckless actions can result in multi-incident collisions like two cars veering off the road and striking the traffic light where a pedestrian is waiting to cross. Pedestrians have the right to walk safely on the sidewalk and cross the street at any hour and any intersection. Drivers are responsible for staying alert to their surroundings and respecting every car, truck, bike, and pedestrian they encounter. The lack of respect for others is what leads to these horrific accidents. You do not need to suffer through this situation alone. You must enlist the help of a New Jersey pedestrian accident lawyer.