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Fair Lawn Hit-and-Run Injures Child and Woman

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Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C.

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Written/Reviewed By:

Barry S. Kantrowitz, Esq.

Last Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Read Time: 4 mins

A morning crash at the intersection of Broadway and Fair Lawn Parkway sent two pedestrians to the hospital this week, and the driver left the scene. Cases like this raise hard questions for the families involved, both about the criminal charges and about who pays for the medical care that follows. Understanding how New Jersey handles hit-and-run collisions is a reasonable place to start.

What Happened in Fair Lawn

According to reporting from Patch, Fair Lawn police responded to the intersection just after 6:30 a.m. and determined that a 47-year-old woman and a 5-year-old child had been struck by a driver who fled. Both victims were hospitalized. The woman was treated for minor injuries. The child’s injuries were serious.

Detectives identified the vehicle as a 2011 Honda Pilot and arrested a 67-year-old Fair Lawn resident. She was charged with third-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, third-degree endangering an injured victim, and related motor vehicle offenses. She was taken to the Bergen County Jail to await a first appearance in Superior Court.

Criminal Charges Are Only Part of the Picture

The prosecution addresses the public wrong. It does not compensate the people who were hurt.

A conviction will not pay a hospital bill, replace lost income, or cover the long recovery a seriously injured child may face. Those losses are addressed through the civil system, which operates separately from the criminal case and applies a different standard of proof. Our team handles the civil side of these cases for injured people throughout North Jersey. The firm does not handle criminal matters, only civil liability.

A Fair Lawn personal injury lawyer looks at questions the prosecutor is not asking. Was the driver insured, and at what limits? Does the victim’s own household auto policy provide coverage? What is the full scope of the injuries, including care the child may need months from now?

Steps That Protect a Civil Claim

Families in this situation are usually focused on medical care, as they should be. Even so, a few practical steps preserve options later:

Keep every medical record, discharge summary, and bill
Request a copy of the police report once it is available
Photograph visible injuries as they heal
Avoid giving recorded statements to any insurer before speaking with counsel
Write down the names of witnesses while memories are fresh

None of this needs to happen on day one. But it should not wait months, either. New Jersey generally gives injured people two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, and claims involving minors follow their own timing rules. Evidence tends to disappear faster than deadlines arrive.

Why Coverage Questions Get Complicated

Hit-and-run cases add layers that ordinary crash claims do not have. When a driver flees and is never found, uninsured motorist coverage often becomes the primary path to recovery. Here, the driver was identified, which changes the analysis but does not simplify it. Her insurance limits, the victims’ own policies, and New Jersey’s no-fault medical benefits system all interact in ways that are difficult to sort through without help.

An experienced Bergen County, NJ personal injury lawyer can review the available policies, coordinate benefits, and pursue the responsible driver directly where the coverage falls short.

Talking With an Attorney

If you or a family member was injured by a driver who left the scene in Fair Lawn or elsewhere in Bergen County, a Fair Lawn personal injury lawyer at Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. can evaluate your situation, explain the coverage available to you, and handle the claim while your family focuses on recovery. Contact KGG Law to discuss your case.

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   LWelsh 
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 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Clever and efficient.
  
 
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   Kenny Perlow 
 21 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. KGG Law, and Barry Kantrowitz in particular, set the bar high for what a thorough, practical, strategic, compassionate and smart lawyer can be. Everything about Barry's advice and representation was exemplary and the stress mitigation that resulted was invaluable. On top of that, the ultimate result Barry achieved was beyond what was reasonable to expect and we are forever grateful. Often, people say that you hire a lawyer to prevent a problem. Sometimes, unfortunately, you need an attorney to solve a problem and I could not recommend Barry and his firm any more highly in that regard.
  
 
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   Aliza Ali 
 85 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My dad had a great experience with this law firm. From the very beginning, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer our questions. They kept us informed throughout the entire process and made what could have been a very stressful situation much easier to handle. We truly appreciated their dedication, honesty, and hard work. Thanks to their support, my dad felt confident every step of the way. We are very grateful for everything they did and would highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable legal representation.
  
 
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   Jana Montero 
 88 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful experience working with Sam Smith. He was very responsive, thorough, and easy to work with from start to finish. He walked me through everything clearly and made what started as a very stressful situation for me into something completely manageable. I would not hesitate to recommend him and the firm!
  
 
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   Mike Sakmann 
 94 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I sought legal advice regarding an employment matter and had an excellent experience working with Sam Smith, Esq. at KGG Law. Sam was thorough, attentive, and took the time to listen carefully to my concerns before providing clear, thoughtful guidance. I appreciated the professionalism and care shown throughout the process, and I would confidently recommend KGG Law to anyone in need of legal assistance.
  
 
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   Liz Hecker 
 100 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can't say enough about this firm. They manage to comfort you during the whole legal process while staying professional and doing what is right. I would recommend them to anyone and also hire them again if I need legal help.
  
 
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   Brandy Miller 
 123 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate is the best. She helped me very quickly, and was very attentive with all of my needs. So thankful for her
  
 
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   Mike Greenspan 
 136 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate Carballo is a dedicated, passionate, and creative attorney whom I had the pleasure to lecture with at a state trial lawyer's conference. Kate's lecture demonstrated how she uses her innovative and "out-of-the-box thinking" to achieve outstanding results for her injured clients. That Kate is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a civil trial attorney is a testament to her skills, experience and commitment to excellence.
  
 
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   Jonathan Sampson 
 143 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Was referred to KGG law by a friend and could not have asked for better legal representation. They walked me through every step of the process after my accident and began every call with “ how are you feeling” which was just one example of how much they care about their clients. They handled my case very efficiently, professionally and courteously. My attorney Kate Carballo was a rock star! So clearly experienced, she consistently made me feel at ease with the process. Highly recommend
  
 
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   Vinnie Kung 
 146 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with the team at KGG Law. While it was a traumatic time for our family, they made it very easy for us and explained all of our options. They even performed due diligence to make sure that after our settlement, there would be no further issues which I think is even more important than the settlement itself. Thank you!

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