Not all auto accidents cause serious physical injuries to drivers or passengers. Sometimes, though, people can be scarred emotionally by the horrors of a multivehicle car accident.
A recent fiery crash in the westbound lanes of the Newark Bay Bridge Turnpike Extension led to a shutdown of more than 1 hour as police and emergency crews responded to the four-car crash that occurred at 8:30 in the morning. Police reported that four cars burst into flames after the collision near mile marker 2.5 near the Newark Bay Bridge.
The accident occurred during the morning commute when one car rear-ended another. The rear-ended car’s ruptured fuel tank spilled enough gas that the vehicle burst into flames and was unrecognizable once the blaze was extinguished. The fire spread to and destroyed three other vehicles involved in the crash.
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries. One woman was taken for treatment to a nearby hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The crash and fire closed all lanes running in both directions, causing a major traffic backup along on I-78, according to police said. Lanes in both directions were reopened around 9:50 a.m. after the fire was contained.
Such accidents can cause severe psychological trauma for those involved, even if there are only slight injuries. Fires spread rapidly when a fuel source is exposed and can create panic and fear among those involved. In many cases, drivers and passengers must leave their vehicles and their belongings in order to save themselves. In this case, fortunately no one was seriously hurt, but medical professionals should be checking victims for possible trauma and offering counseling services if necessary.
Victims in a multivehicle pileup that results in serious injuries, physical or psychological, should seek the expertise of a legal professional for advice and assistance in seeking financial compensation.
Source: NJ.com, “Four-car crash, fire shuts NJ Turnpike Extension causes I-78 back-up,” Aiyana Cronk, Apr. 18, 2013