Just south of Newark, New Jersey, a 65-year old nun, who was also a social studies teacher, died while two others were left with serious injuries after their car was rear-ended by a box truck. They were traveling along Woodbridge Avenue in Edison Township when the accident occurred.
The 65-year-old nun, who was in the back seat of the car, died at the scene. Her 63-year-old sister was driving. The deceased victim’s 70-year-old sister-in-law was in the passenger seat. Both of the injured women were transported to a university hospital and are in critical condition. The driver of the truck was unhurt and the investigation is still ongoing.
A truck accident has the notoriety of causing extensive vehicular damage and serious injuries. The possibility of a fatality is also very high. This is mostly due to the size of the truck and the load that it is generally carrying. However, the truck itself is not the liability on the road. Vehicles, whether trucks, cars or buses, are typically safe if they are properly maintained and driven with safety in mind. Of course, the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the driver and the trucking company.
A driver who engages in negligent behavior like drunken driving, disregard for traffic laws and distracted driving is more likely to cause an accident. At the same time, a trucking company that fails to properly maintain a truck or train its drivers can be held responsible for dangerous incidents that occur on the road.
A Newark resident who has been victimized by such negligence may be able hold the responsible parties liable. Legal action can help the person to obtain compensation for accident-related damages. In the event of a fatality, a family member can pursue the legal claim on behalf of the victim.
Source: The Star-Ledger, “Edison Car Crashes Leave 4 Dead, 2 Critically Injured And Police Stunned,” Sue Epstein, Oct. 15, 2013