Authorities report that, on April 13, a 27-year-old male bicyclist was injured after a driver reportedly struck him and then drove away. The crash occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. in Winslow Township.
According to a person who witnessed the accident, a 41-year-old man operating a 2003 Toyota Corolla smashed into a man as he was bicycling on the shoulder of New Freedom Road. When police responded to the scene, they located the alleged motorist’s vehicle parked at a bar and stated that it was damaged. They also found the driver of the vehicle who resides in Washington Township and arrested him on criminal charges including leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with serious bodily injury, endangering an injured victim and assault by auto. At the time of reporting, the man was being held in the Camden County Jail. His bail was set in the amount of $50,000 full cash.
The bicyclist was transported by a medical helicopter to Cooper University Hospital for treatment of major injuries. When the report was issued, local police requested anyone with information about the accident to contact them.
Motorists have a legal obligation to act reasonably when driving around pedestrians and bicyclists. Drivers who strike a person and then flee from the scene might be held both criminally and civilly responsible for their actions. A local attorney who has knowledge in the area of personal injury lawsuits may be able to help victims of car accidents pursue compensation for damages if the driver is suspected of causing the accident. A personal injury attorney might be able to evaluate evidence such as the official investigation report, witness accounts and reconstructionists reports, if available. The accused driver’s guilty verdict or plea of guilty to any criminal charges might also be used to strengthen the case and support the allegations of negligence. Compensation in such suits usually covers the plaintiff’s losses incurred from the accident like medical expenses and lost wages.
Source: NJ.com, “Hit-and-run suspect found at the bar after crashing into bicyclist, police say,” Jessica Beym, April 14, 2015