A Wrongful Death Claim May Follow After Fatal New Jersey Accident

The third week of October is National Teen Driver Safety Week. The death of a New Jersey teenager 10 days before the start of this awareness week is a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of teenagers on our roads. Even though the families of deceased victims of road accidents have the option to file a wrongful death claim, nothing can replace the loss they have suffered.

The accident happened during the early hours of a recent Thursday morning. The teenager was killed when a semi-truck slammed into the stationary pickup truck. The teenage driver was waiting for a change of lights when the semi-truck hit his vehicle from behind.

The impact was so severe that the pickup truck was instantly engulfed in flames. A witness to the accident was severely injured when he tried to save the 18-year-old driver from the burning vehicle. The burned victim was airlifted to a nearby medical center.

As a result of the accident, the eastbound lanes had to be closed for more than four hours. The accident is under investigation. More information will be available as the investigation progresses.

Should the evidence suggest that negligence was the root cause of the accident, the seriously injured victim or the family of the deceased teenager may elect to institute civil claims against the alleged negligent driver in order to seek recovery of monetary damages. In New Jersey, families of the victims of fatal motor vehicle accidents, as well as seriously injured accident victims, have the right to seek compensation by means of a civil suit. A successful wrongful death claim may assist in providing monetary relief to the family during a difficult time.

Source: nj.com, “18-year-old driver killed in fiery truck crash on Route 22 in Green Brook“, Walter O’Brien, Oct 9, 2014