Two people were killed and four others injured in a New Jersey auto accident involving three vehicles. According to a news report from www.nj.com, a 32-year-old Cape May County woman drove through a stop sign and caused the three-car collision. Sadly, the two passengers in that driver’s car, her 71 year old father and 73 year old mother, died as a result of the accident. A 13-year-old boy also in the same vehicle suffered a compound fracture in his leg after being ejected out of the back window. The victim in the second vehicle suffered leg and back injuries. The victim in the third vehicle was reportedly uninjured.
New Jersey Statutes 39:4-120.9 and 39:4-81 state that all vehicles must come to a complete stop at all stop signs.
In this case, driving through a stop sign cost the life of an elderly couple and injured two others. The failure to yield the right-of-way and rear-ending a stopped vehicle are two common occurrences at intersections in New Jersey. In such cases, wearing a seatbelt at all times when seated in your vehicle (whether stopped or driving), can help minimize personal injuries to vehicle occupants in such cases.
When such incidents occur it is also important to examine whether the accidents were caused by other dangers at the intersection. Sometimes, stop signs can be visually obscured by foliage or some other type of obstruction. Vehicle control devices (such as traffic lights and directional arrows, etc.) may be in disrepair and not functioning properly. Excessive road debris and hazards (e.g., large potholes, ice build-up, etc.) may cause or contribute to accidents. If the accident was caused by a dangerous condition on the roadway, the governmental agency or municipality responsible for maintaining the roadway, signs and traffic control devices could be held liable for the accident and the resulting injuries and damages.
If you are involved in a New Jersey auto accident, contact the New Jersey car accident lawyers of Blume Forte at 973-845-4421 to schedule a no-cost consultation regarding your potential claim.