New Jersey Personal Injury Blog

New Jersey DUI Collision Causes Injuries

A male drunk driver injured nine pedestrians leaving the new Meadowlands Stadium after he reportedly crashed his car into the group. According to a report in the New York Daily News, the 21-year-old driver from the Bronx plowed into a crowd of people leaving the Mexico-Ecuador soccer match at the stadium. One of the victims was a 20-month-old infant who sustained minor injuries. The driver was charged with assault with an automobile, driving while intoxicated, aggravated assault of a juvenile and leaving the scene of an accident. The victims were part of a larger group of pedestrians crossing the freeway while leaving the game. All other vehicles stopped for the crossing pedestrians, but the intoxicated driver did not.

Under New Jersey law, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher. N.J.S.A section 39:4-50 (a) states in part: “…. a person who operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug, or operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the defendant’s blood or permits another person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug to operate a motor vehicle owned by him or in his custody or control, or permits another to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the defendant’s blood” shall be illegal.

Victims of drunk driving/DUI (“driving under the influence”) auto accidents may seek compensation from the drunk driver for their physical injuries, unpaid medical expenses, disability and lost wages. In addition, those who served the intoxicated driver with alcohol may also be liable under New Jersey’s “dram shop” laws, depending upon the circumstances. Call the New Jersey auto accident lawyers at Blume Goldfaden, who will provide a no-cost consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your potential claim if you have been injured by a drunk driver. Contact us at 973-635-5400 to find out how we can help.