A pedestrian has died after being struck by a vehicle in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. The Shrewsbury Police responded to a single motor vehicle collision with a pedestrian on State Highway south, at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Monday, December 7, 2020.
A woman, who was driving a 2018 Honda Civic in the southbound lanes of State Highway 35, struck the pedestrian, Tamar Carseladze, 69, of Shrewsbury, as he attempted to cross State Highway 35 just north of Avenue at the Common. Carseladze was walking outside of a marked crosswalk when he was hit.
Both Carseladze and the driver were taken to a local hospital, where Carseladze was pronounced dead at 6:55 p.m. The driver sustained a non-life threatening injury and was released. The accident remains under investigation by both the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office and the Shrewsbury Police Department.
Pedestrians continue to be at risk
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), in 2019, pedestrian fatalities on U.S. roadways were the highest they have been in 30 years. And although pedestrians already accounted for a 17% of all traffic fatalities that year, which was an increase of 5% from 2012, the number of all other traffic fatalities has increased by only 2%.
Most pedestrian fatalities occur on local roadways away from intersections, and 75% occur after dark. Negligent driving behaviors, such as distracted or drowsy driving as well as speeding and alcohol impairment, are often a factor in these collisions. And in nearly half of all traffic accidents involving pedestrian fatalities, alcohol impairment of the driver or the pedestrian was a factor.
Establishing negligence in New Jersey
New Jersey is a contributory negligence state, which means that in order to recover damages in a negligence claim, the injured party must convince the jury that he or she was less at fault for causing the accident than the person who allegedly caused it.
In the event of reckless or negligent driving, or a DUI that results in the death of a loved one, it is possible to pursue a negligence or wrongful death claim. Experienced legal counsel who know the law will work on your behalf to recover compensation if you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident.