Three die in New Jersey car accident

During the holiday season, more New Jersey residents take to the road to visit family and friends and engage in additional holiday celebrations. As the number of drivers increases on the roadway, it is prudent to be vigilant about the rules of the road to avoid car accidents.

One young New Jersey driver is accused of failing to follow several driving and vehicle laws. Authorities charge the 19-year-old from Hamilton Township, with driving while intoxicated, vehicular homicide and fleeing the scene of an accident.

The accident occurred in mid-December during the early morning hours. The 19-year-old apparently lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a tractor-trailer truck. The accident resulted in the death of the teenager’s three passengers, all of whom were about the same age.

As with any New Jersey resident who faces the death of a loved one, the families of three young adults killed in the accident must grapple with their horrors of their loss. In addition, they must also think about the financial consequences of the accident and their legal options. The most common remedy following a car accident is a civil lawsuit based on a negligence claim.

In situations in which the authorities have charged the alleged negligent driver with criminal offenses, a plaintiff pursuing a civil action may be able to point to these criminal violations to demonstrate that the defendant did in fact breach his duty of care.

The standard is what a reasonable driver would have done. Proof of a traffic violation and other criminal charges help a plaintiff show that the driver did not act reasonably.

Thus, following the rules of the road not only helps avoid accidents but can also be a means by which a plaintiff can make a case.

Source: Hamilton Observer, “HAMILTON: Driver in triple fatal accident faces charges,” Lea Kahn, Dec. 27, 2013