Nearly every New Jersey driver has experienced the terrible sensation on the road of realizing that he or she may not be able to stop in time to avoid colliding with something. Unfortunately, such car accidents can cause serious damage to other vehicles, severe injuries to vehicle occupants, pedestrians or cyclists. After a recent car accident, one crossing guard is lucky to be alive. As she struggles to get better, she will may be comforted by the fact that she is likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
The accident occurred in Bergenfield on a local road on a recent Tuesday morning, according to police. The crossing guard was struck by a vehicle. The 60-year-old woman was seriously injured.
According to published reports, the woman was helping during services for Rosh Hashanah, near a local synagogue. After the collision, she was rushed to a local medical center, where she remains in critical condition. The vehicle that struck her was operated by a 63-year-old man from Bergenfield. He was cited for careless driving, failure to stop for pedestrians crossing as well as failure to obey a crossing guard.
Being involved in a car accident can leave a worker seriously injured and unable to continue with his or her job. That’s where workers’ compensation benefits typically apply. Here, the victim will likely be entitled to file a claim for compensation benefits to cover her medical bills and missed time from work while she recovers. Separately, she may choose to pursue a third party claim for personal injuries in a New Jersey civil court against the car driver, based upon evidence that he negligently caused the accident that resulted in her injuries.
Source: nj.com, “Crossing guard critical after being struck in Bergenfield“, Paul Milo, Sept. 15, 2015