It’s no secret that Northern New Jersey roads have become more dangerous in recent years.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roadway fatalities increased in the first half of 2022; our home state of New Jersey is no exception. We’ve certainly noticed a trend of increasing numbers of serious accidents among our clients at Buttafuoco & Associates.
Car accidents have gone up in recent years due to various factors such as an increase in distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving.
Some of these are effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, while the reasons for others are harder to pin down.
Whatever the cause, our Northern New Jersey car accident attorneys anticipate that this trend will continue, leading to an increase in traffic-related wrongful death cases. In this article, we’ll describe some of the common reasons for car accident deaths.
Common Causes of Fatal Car Accidents
While there are many causes of serious accidents, the most common examples we see at our firm include:
- Drunk driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs a driver’s ability to make good decisions, reduces their reaction time, and can lead to reckless behavior.
- Distracted driving: While we often think of texting and cell phone use when we think of distracted drivers, it also includes activities such as eating, drinking, or other behaviors that take a driver’s attention away from the road. It can lead to a driver failing to notice important changes in traffic or failing to react quickly enough to avoid a serious collision.
- Reckless driving: This can include speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, or other reckless driving behaviors. Driving at high speeds, for example, increases the likelihood of losing control of the vehicle, reduces the amount of time a driver needs to react to obstacles in the road, and increases the force of impact in the event of a crash.
In all of these cases, if another driver is killed by the behavior of the person responsible, a wrongful death suit may be brought by the victim’s family. To find out more about whether you have a case, get in touch with a wrongful death attorney serving Northern New Jersey.
Non-Driver-Related Serious Accidents
Though less-often discussed, at Buttafuoco & Associates, we also see cases where the party at fault for a serious crash is not another driver. These include:
Defective vehicle accidents:
If a car crash is caused by a defect in the vehicle or its parts, the victim’s family may be able to bring wrongful death claims against the manufacturer or other parties responsible for the defect. This example would fall into the category of a product liability lawsuit.
Common automotive-related product liability suits include:
- Brake failure
- Tire blowouts
- Suspension failure
- Steering failure
- Faulty airbags
- Seatbelt failure
- Vehicle fires
If you experience a defective vehicle accident that results in death, keep in mind that these cases can be complex and are often best handled by a Northern New Jersey product liability attorney.
Negligent road maintenance:
If a car accident is caused by a hazardous road condition that should have been repaired or addressed, the victim’s family may be able to bring a wrongful death claim against those responsible for maintaining the road. Common examples include:
- Potholes and Uneven surfaces
- Poorly designed or maintained drainage systems
- Faded or missing road markings
- Overgrown vegetation
- Inadequate lighting
This type of case is also complicated, and working with a lawyer is typically in victims’ best interest.
What makes a Car Crash Fatality a Wrongful Death Case?
A car crash fatality may be the basis for a wrongful death lawsuit when the death was caused by the negligence of another party. For a wrongful death lawsuit to be successful, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s actions were negligent, and that those actions were a direct cause of the victim’s death.
Even if your situation doesn’t resemble the situations described in this article, it is important to consult with an experienced car accident lawyer serving Northern New Jersey to determine the specific circumstances of your case and whether you have grounds for a wrongful death claim.
To learn more about your potential case, get in touch with Buttafuoco & Associates for a free consultation.
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