A wreck on the New Jersey Turnpike, which caused one of the cars to become engulfed in flames, killed one person on Nov. 25. The accident happened at about 6:30 p.m. when a small dump truck hit a Ford Crown Victoria that was stopped in the southbound shoulder of the outer roadway.
A fire started in the car, and while the driver escaped, a passenger in the back seat became trapped. The backseat passenger had severe injuries and died in the crash. The death was pronounced about one hour following the initial impact.
The Crown Victoria driver suffered minor injuries and received treatment at Trinitas Regional Medical Center. The dump truck driver was unharmed in the car crash. Police are still investigating the accident, but they do not think the dump truck driver will be charged.
Traffic accidents involving dump trucks or larger commercial vehicles could have devastating effects on the occupants of smaller passenger vehicles. It is not unusual for small vehicle occupants to suffer serious to fatal injuries in such collisions.
There are several causes of truck crashes, including driver fatigue and distraction. When people are killed in collisions that involve negligence such as distracted driving, their spouses or other dependents might have the right to file wrongful death claims. Survivors who are awarded compensation might be reimbursed for funeral expenses, and they may also receive money for lost household income.
The family could inquire from a lawyer about how strong their case is and the likelihood that they may be awarded compensation before they file the lawsuit. A lawyer might help the survivors strengthen their case and navigate the litigation process.
Source: NJ.com, “Passenger who died in Turnpike crash was trapped in car when fire broke out, police say“, Katie Lannan, November 26, 2014