1 serious injury in New Jersey multi-car accident
A multi-car accident in New Jersey on April 6 led to the closure of all the northbound lanes on the Garden State Parkway. One person was seriously injured, and the 71-year-old man who allegedly caused the accident by falling asleep at the wheel is facing a charge of assault by auto.
The accident, which involved four vehicles, occurred around 8:30 p.m. The man was driving a 2012 Lincoln, and his car rear-ended a 2006 Buick driven by a 68-year-old man. The Buick ran into another car, which then hit a fourth car.
The 66-year-old female passenger in the Buick was the one who was seriously injured although reports say those injuries were not life-threatening. She was in stable condition at a nearby hospital. The driver of the Buick had minor injuries.
An individual who is seriously injured in an accident like this one may want to file a lawsuit against the responsible driver. In a civil case, it is necessary to prove negligence. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, falling asleep at the wheel might be considered negligent driving. Even if criminal charges are dropped, unsuccessful or never filed, an individual may still be found negligent in a civil sense. The burden of proof is lower in a civil case, and an action also does not have to be criminal to still be considered negligent.
An individual injured in such an accident might face a long period of rehabilitation that involves missing work and high medical bills. Compensation from a successful civil suit might help offset some of those expenses.
Source: NorthJersey.com, “Police: NYC man fell asleep at wheel, touched off GSP chain-reaction crash in Woodcliff Lake,” Stefanie Dazio, April 7, 2015
