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It’s easy to assume that when there are victims in a car accident that multiple vehicles are involved. But single car accidents caused by a negligent driver can be just as dangerous as multi-car accidents.
Recently, a rookie NYPD officer was killed in a single car accident, leaving behind a fiancé and community to mourn.
On the night of the accident, she joined a fellow officer and several other friends for dinner. The group had a lovely evening and everyone headed home shortly before midnight. She decided to accept a ride from her co-worker who was driving a Dodge Charger.
The two were on their way home when suddenly the driver lost control of the car and it slammed into a tree stump. The angle and force of the impact caused the car to flip over several times before coming to rest on the side of the road. When it landed, it burst into flames.
Two other off-duty officers happened to be nearby and were the first on the scene. Together they worked to free the two trapped inside of the car while battling the intense heat and flames. They were able to drag the driver out but could not reach the female passenger. One of the rescuers stated that “she was burned so badly that we didn’t know if it was a man or a woman.”
The 32-year-old driver was rushed to a nearby hospital with serious burns and traumatic injuries from the accident. He was listed in critical condition and doctors reported that he was going to be placed in a medically induced coma for at least two days.
His 27-year-old passenger was declared dead at the scene. She leaves behind a family and her fiancé, whom she was going to marry this coming April.
Although police have not yet been able to discuss the accident with the driver, they believe that he was traveling at high speeds and this contributed to the crash. They do not yet know if he was under the influence of alcohol.
Nearly every driver at one point or another gives in to the temptation to speed. Whether it’s because they are running late or they want to feel like they are in control of a powerful cool vehicle, the reality is that speeding occurs regularly.
The problem is that most people don’t understand the dangers of going over the speed limit. When the speed limit is determined for a road, it is because a speed study has been performed, looking into the curves in the road and the location. If a driver goes over the posted speed limit, they risk hindering their ability to safely steer around a curve or unexpected object in the road and they also limit the amount of time that they have to bring the car to a complete stop in order to avoid a collision. In addition to this, if they do cause an accident, they may find themselves named as the defendant in a car accident lawsuit.
Being in an accident is shocking enough. Tragically, a second shock frequently occurs when the victim realizes that their insurance policy doesn’t provide enough coverage to pay for their medical expenses.
Although New York is a “no-fault” state where those involved in an accident are supposed to turn to their own policy for compensation, the law does allow victims who have sustained the following injuries to file a lawsuit:
If the victim passes away their loved ones can file the complaint on their behalf.
Depending on the circumstances, the surviving children, spouse, or parents of the deceased may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. To determine if you are eligible, contact a car accident attorney.
