Three individuals recently lost their lives in a multi-vehicle collision that also injured 12 others. The accident took place at night on a New Jersey interstate highway near Bernards Township in late November. When car accidents like these occur that result in the deaths of individuals involved due to other parties’ negligence, loved ones are typically entitled to file wrongful death claims in order to recoup some of their financial losses.
At some point during the evening, a truck, driven by a 43-year-old man, pulled over onto the highway’s right shoulder in order to repair the trailer he was towing. A car driven by a 23-year-old man then collided with the trailer. The driver pulled over and got out of the vehicle, according to the police.
While the men stood by their vehicles, a van carrying 12 passengers drifted onto the right shoulder, hit the guardrail, the truck, the trailer, and the car before striking the 23-year-old. The man was rushed to a local medical center, but was pronounced dead around an hour after the accident. Two passengers in the van were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident as well.
When car accidents like these that result in the deaths of New Jersey residents occur, their loved ones are typically left picking up the pieces both emotionally and financially. Family members may be burdened with costs associated with the fatal accident, including end-of-life expenses and even the loss of a loved one’s income. In order to gain financial relief, families may choose to pursue a wrongful death claim to recoup some of these expenses. In order to successfully navigate such a claim, sufficient evidence that proves that one of the parties involved was negligent must be gathered. An experienced personal injury attorney is often consulted in order to do this.
Source: The New York Times, “Worlds converge in deadly crash on New Jersey Highway“, Sarah Maslin Nir, Dec. 4, 2015