A split second is all it takes. One driver who runs a red light, glances at a phone, or fails to yield at a crosswalk can leave a pedestrian with life-altering injuries, mounting medical bills and no clear path forward. In Bergen County and the surrounding Fort Lee area, pedestrians share roads with heavy commuter traffic, trucks approaching the George Washington Bridge and drivers who too often treat crosswalks as optional. If you were struck while walking, you may be facing a situation that feels overwhelming — but you do not have to handle it alone.
At Jae Lee Law, we represent pedestrians who have been seriously injured because of someone else’s carelessness. Our Fort Lee personal injury team, led by managing partner Jae E. Lee, brings nearly 100 years of combined experience and a record of securing millions in recoveries for clients throughout New Jersey. We are not just responsive — we are proactive and when a fair settlement is not on the table, we are always prepared to go to trial.
Why Pedestrian Accidents Are So Common in Fort Lee
Fort Lee sits at one of the most congested points in the entire state. The approaches to the George Washington Bridge funnel enormous volumes of traffic through local intersections and residential streets every day. Delivery trucks, commuters and rideshare drivers compete for space, and pedestrians often pay the price.
According to the New Jersey State Police Fatal Crash Statistics, 2024 saw 223 pedestrian fatalities in New Jersey — the highest total in more than three decades. For every fatality, many more pedestrians suffer serious, non-fatal injuries that require surgery, rehabilitation and extended time away from work. The density of Bergen County only amplifies these risks, placing local residents at elevated danger every time they step off a curb.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents rarely happen by chance. Most trace back to a driver’s failure to exercise reasonable care. Some of the most frequent causes we see in Fort Lee include the following.
- Distracted driving: Drivers texting, adjusting GPS, or otherwise not watching the road are responsible for a significant share of pedestrian strikes.
- Failure to yield: New Jersey law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks, and violations of this rule cause serious harm.
- Speeding: Higher vehicle speeds dramatically increase both the likelihood of a crash and the severity of injuries a pedestrian sustains.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol and drug impairment reduce reaction time and judgment, making it far more likely that a driver will fail to see a pedestrian in time to stop.
- Turning violations: Right and left turns at intersections are a leading cause of pedestrian strikes because drivers focus on traffic flow rather than those crossing on foot.
No matter how the accident occurred, if a driver’s negligence put you in the hospital, you have the right to pursue compensation.
What Injuries Do Pedestrian Accident Victims Suffer?
When a vehicle strikes a person on foot, the human body absorbs an enormous amount of force. The injuries that result are often severe and, in many cases, permanent. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal bleeding, and soft tissue injuries are all common outcomes. Recovery can take months or years, and some victims never return to the same level of function they had before the crash.
Serious injuries do not just create medical expenses — they disrupt every part of a person’s life. Lost wages during recovery, reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to your prior job, home modifications for long-term disabilities, and the ongoing cost of physical therapy or pain management can add up quickly. A thorough personal injury claim accounts for all of these losses, not just the bills that arrive in the immediate aftermath of the crash. Our team has relationships with medical providers throughout the area, and we understand how to document and present the full extent of what our clients have lost.
How New Jersey Law Applies to Pedestrian Accident Claims
New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence standard. This means that even if an insurance company argues you were partially at fault — for example, by crossing outside a crosswalk — you may still recover compensation, provided your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. Any recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, which is why having an attorney who knows how to investigate and present the facts of your case matters so much.
New Jersey also requires all drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, coverage as part of their auto insurance. Depending on your policy, this coverage may provide some initial benefits regardless of fault. However, PIP coverage has limits, and for significant injuries, it rarely covers the full scope of losses. Pursuing a claim directly against the at-fault driver is typically necessary to obtain the compensation a seriously injured pedestrian deserves. For context on how New Jersey courts address related accident claims, our team has also covered a landmark case involving an auto-related death brought before the state’s highest court.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Fort Lee
The steps you take immediately after a pedestrian accident can significantly affect the strength of your claim. First, seek medical attention right away, even if you feel you can walk. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some of the most serious injuries — particularly head and internal injuries — do not produce obvious symptoms until hours or days later. A medical record created close in time to the accident is also important evidence.
Beyond that, do not give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Insurers are experienced at gathering statements they can later use to minimize or deny claims. Document the scene with photos if you are physically able to do so, gather contact information from any witnesses, and preserve any clothing or personal items from the accident.
New Jersey has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Missing this deadline generally means losing the right to compensation entirely. Evidence also degrades over time — surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses become harder to locate, and physical conditions at the accident scene change. The sooner we begin working on your case, the better positioned we are to build the strongest possible claim on your behalf.
Why Jae Lee Law Is the Right Choice for Your Pedestrian Accident Case
We are a boutique firm, which means you get personal attention — not a file number passed between staff. Jae Lee founded this practice on a simple principle: injured clients should never become victims again, this time at the hands of their own legal team. We have seen what happens when attorneys prioritize a quick settlement over a client’s actual recovery, and we refuse to operate that way. Every case receives careful, hands-on attention from our team, and we advance litigation costs so cost is never a barrier to pursuing justice.
Our multilingual team serves clients in English, Korean, Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian, reflecting the diverse communities of Fort Lee and Bergen County. We are Supreme Court certified — a credential held by fewer than 3% of attorneys in New Jersey — and our combined team carries over 100 years of legal experience. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, you deserve attorneys who will fight for every dollar you are owed. Fill out our contact form today to speak with our team about your case.
