A young child was killed recently after being involved in a car accident on New Year’s Day. The two-car crash that killed the child occurred in South Brunswick on Route 1, officials say. When individuals in New Jersey lose a loved one in car accidents that were due to another party or parties’ negligence, they are typically entitled to file a wrongful death suit against the responsible party or parties.
The accident, which was reported at 5:13 a.m., occurred when a minivan broadsided a car. The car, which was on Route 1, had five passengers in it, including the deceased, police say. According to the initial report, there were signs that the car’s driver may have been driving while distracted and ran a red light. However, there is no indication that alcohol played a part in the accident.
The Jaws of Life were operated by the Monmouth Junction Fire Department in order to extricate the car’s five passengers, who range in age from 13 to 27. A husband and wife, both 59 years old, as well as an adult relative were in the minivan. All eight individuals involved in the accident were transported to local area hospitals. Sections of Route 1 were closed for as much as six hours while police conducted their investigation of the crash.
The investigation into this tragic accident is currently ongoing. In the case that criminal charges are formally filed and that prosecutors are able to secure a conviction on a charge related to this accident, proof of guilt might be offered as evidence in a wrongful death suit or personal injury claims related to this crash. This could help in establishing negligence on the part of the car’s driver — this is required before a New Jersey civil court will assess whether an award of damages is appropriate. Individuals who are seriously injured in car accidents similar to this one typically consult an experienced personal injury attorney to assess the validity of a proposed wrongful death suit or personal injury claim and gain advice and guidance throughout the entirety of the claims process, which sometimes involves litigation in the civil justice system.
Source: nj1015.com, “Child dies in New Year’s Day Route 1 crash“, LF O’Murchu, Jan. 2, 2016