Car Accidents on Route 70 in Cherry Hill: Why Determining Fault Can Be Complicated

Route 70 is one of South Jersey’s major east-west roadways, connecting residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and surrounding communities through Cherry Hill. With multiple travel lanes, signalized intersections, turning movements, and frequent access to shopping centers and businesses, accidents along this corridor can involve complicated questions about who was responsible.

For additional information about accident investigations, insurance coverage, comparative negligence, and compensation, see this guide to Cherry Hill car accident claims from Rosengard Law Group.

When a collision occurs, determining fault is not always as straightforward as identifying which vehicle struck the other. Drivers may provide conflicting accounts, traffic conditions may have contributed to the crash, and more than one motorist may have acted negligently.

Understanding how liability is established under New Jersey law is essential for anyone injured in a Route 70 car accident.

Why Route 70 Accidents Can Be Difficult to Investigate

Route 70 passes through Cherry Hill and neighboring communities, carrying local motorists, commuters, delivery vehicles, and commercial traffic. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, portions of the Route 70 corridor have between four and eight travel lanes, with turning movements accommodated through jughandles and median left-turn lanes.

These roadway characteristics create situations in which several vehicles may be moving in different directions within a relatively small area. A driver approaching an intersection may encounter vehicles slowing to turn, motorists entering from commercial properties, and traffic changing lanes to reach an upcoming exit or jughandle.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Route 70 corridor information provides details about the roadway’s configuration and design.

When a collision happens, investigators must consider the actions of each driver, the applicable traffic controls, and whether those actions contributed to the accident.

Common Route 70 Accident Scenarios That Create Liability Disputes

Intersection Collisions and Disputed Traffic Signals

Intersection accidents often involve conflicting statements about traffic lights and the right of way. One driver may insist that the signal was green, while another claims the opposite.

Determining responsibility may require witness statements, available surveillance footage, vehicle positions, roadway markings, and evidence of the traffic-signal sequence.

A police report can provide valuable information, but it may not resolve every disputed fact. Additional investigation may be necessary when the drivers disagree about how the crash occurred.

Jughandle Turns and Improper Lane Changes

New Jersey’s jughandle intersections can create confusion for drivers unfamiliar with the roadway. A motorist who realizes too late that a turn requires using a jughandle may attempt an abrupt lane change.

Other drivers may fail to yield when entering the roadway or misunderstand the applicable traffic controls.

In these cases, investigators may examine lane markings, turn signals, vehicle damage, witness observations, and whether either driver made an unsafe maneuver.

Rear-End Collisions in Stop-and-Go Traffic

Rear-end accidents frequently raise questions about following distance, speed, attention, and reaction time.

A driver who follows too closely may be unable to stop when traffic slows. However, some collisions involve additional factors, including sudden lane changes, multiple impacts, or unexpected vehicle movements.

Consider a three-vehicle accident in which one vehicle strikes another and pushes it into a third. Determining which driver caused each impact can be essential to assigning responsibility.

Accidents Involving Commercial Driveways

Route 70 provides access to numerous commercial properties. Collisions may occur when drivers turn into or exit shopping centers, restaurants, or office complexes.

A driver entering traffic must account for approaching vehicles, but the conduct of motorists already traveling on Route 70 can also matter.

Evidence concerning speed, visibility, roadway conditions, and vehicle movements may help establish responsibility.

How Investigators Determine Fault After a Route 70 Car Accident

Establishing fault requires reconstructing the circumstances of the collision and identifying the conduct that contributed to it.

Depending on the accident, relevant evidence may include:

• Police Accident Reports: Information about the drivers, vehicles, roadway conditions, and observations made during the investigation.
• Witness Statements: Accounts from motorists, passengers, pedestrians, or nearby individuals who observed the collision.
• Photographs and Video: Images showing vehicle damage, road markings, traffic signals, and the positions of the vehicles.
• Surveillance and Dashcam Footage: Available recordings that may clarify traffic movements and the sequence of events.
• Vehicle Data: Information from applicable onboard systems that may help establish speed, braking, or other vehicle activity.
• Accident Reconstruction: Expert analysis of physical evidence when the cause of a serious collision remains disputed.

The availability and reliability of this evidence vary from case to case. No single piece of evidence necessarily establishes every element of liability.

Can More Than One Driver Be Responsible for a Car Accident?

Yes. New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence system, which recognizes that multiple parties may contribute to an accident.

Under N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1, an injured person may generally recover damages when their percentage of negligence is not greater than that of the defendant or the combined negligence of the defendants against whom recovery is sought.

However, compensation is reduced according to the injured person’s percentage of responsibility.

For example, suppose a Route 70 collision causes $100,000 in legally recoverable damages. If the injured driver is found 20% responsible, the recovery would generally be reduced to $80,000.

If that driver’s responsibility exceeds 50% in a two-driver accident, recovery would generally be barred.

This makes an accurate investigation particularly important when insurance companies disagree about which motorist caused the collision.

Why Proving the Injury Is Different From Proving Fault

Even when the responsible driver is identified, a personal injury claim may involve additional disputes.

An insurance company may acknowledge that its insured caused the collision while questioning whether the accident caused a particular medical condition or whether the requested compensation is supported by evidence.

Medical records, diagnostic findings, treatment histories, and physician opinions may be necessary to establish the nature and extent of the injuries.

New Jersey automobile insurance policies also contain provisions concerning Personal Injury Protection benefits and the limited or unlimited right to sue for pain and suffering.

The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance explains how these policy elections can affect accident-related injury claims.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident on Route 70?

The actions taken immediately after a collision can help protect your health and preserve important evidence.

1. Move to Safety: If possible, move away from traffic and avoid standing in travel lanes.
2. Request Emergency Assistance: Call 911 when someone is injured or emergency assistance is needed.
3. Seek Medical Attention: Obtain appropriate evaluation for injuries, including symptoms that develop after the collision.
4. Document the Scene: When safe, photograph vehicle damage, roadway conditions, traffic signals, and nearby landmarks.
5. Exchange Information: Collect the other driver’s identification, registration, and insurance details.
6. Preserve Records: Save medical documents, photographs, witness information, and correspondence with insurance companies.
7. Consider Legal Guidance: Before accepting a settlement or signing a release, understand the potential consequences for your claim.

If the Cherry Hill Police Department investigated the collision, involved individuals can obtain information about accident reports through the department’s Police Records Office.

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in New Jersey?

Under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, most New Jersey personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues.

Exceptions and different deadlines can apply, particularly when a potentially responsible public entity is involved.

Although two years may seem like sufficient time, evidence can disappear much sooner. Surveillance recordings may be overwritten, damaged vehicles may be repaired, and witnesses may become difficult to locate.

Preserving available evidence early can make a meaningful difference when responsibility is disputed.

Why a Thorough Liability Investigation Matters

A serious collision on Route 70 can leave an injured person facing medical expenses, lost income, ongoing treatment, and substantial uncertainty about the future.

However, obtaining compensation requires more than establishing that an accident occurred. The evidence must support liability, connect the accident to the injuries, and establish the damages recoverable under New Jersey law.

When multiple drivers, disputed traffic signals, or conflicting accounts are involved, an experienced attorney can help evaluate the available evidence and identify the legal issues affecting the claim.

Understanding how fault is established—and what evidence supports that determination—is an important first step toward protecting your rights after a serious Route 70 collision.