Any New Jersey motorist who gets behind the wheel after consuming alcohol is placing his or her own life at risk as well as all who share the roadways. Police were recently called to the scene of a terrible accident. They later stated their suspicions that a tractor-trailer driver who was involved in the collision that caused personal injury and death was intoxicated when the accident occurred.

The horrific scene initially unfolded at approximately 3:30 p.m. on a recent Wednesday. Authorities say the big rig, driven by a 38-year-old male, slammed into the rear of another vehicle. That car was then catapulted forward, hitting another vehicle on the road.

At the same time, the tractor-trailer jack-knifed, striking two more cars. Several of the drivers suffered non-life threatening injuries and were expected to fully recover. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the driver of the first car that was hit. He succumbed to his injuries about an hour after the crash.

Police say someone had called 911 just before the fatal accident took place. The caller was apparently worried that the tractor-trailer was allegedly moving erratically through traffic. In addition to any criminal charges that might be filed in such situations, the immediate family members of a fatal accident victim as well as those injured may also pursue personal injury and wrongful death claims to seek recovery for their losses. This obviously can never overcome the loss of human life, but successfully litigated suits can help alleviate financial stress often associated with such incidents.

Source: NBC New York, “Man Dies in Crash With Tractor-Trailer in New Jersey: Police“, Sept. 7, 2017