Jersey City, NJ (February 10th, 2022) – On the morning of Thursday, February 10th, one person was fatally injured and two others sustained serious injuries in a head-on collision that happened on the Jersey City side of the Lincoln Highway Bridge.
According to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the accident happened before 11 in the morning on the eastbound lanes of the road. The road, known as Routes 1 and 9 connects Jersey City to Newark and Kearny. A divider made out of cement divides the road.
Based on preliminary reports, it was determined that the driver of a Nissan Altima was heading west on the eastbound lanes of the roadway when the vehicle sideswiped a Kia.
The driver of the Nissan has only been identified as a 52-year-old person. This individual was said to have been driving on the wrong side of the road before the head-on collision happened. The head-on impact involved a third vehicle, a Hyundai sedan, which was driven by a person only identified as a 28-year-old man from Jersey City.
The person driving the Nissan was pronounced deceased at the scene by first responders. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending a notification of next-of-kin.
The individual whose vehicle was side swept has been identified as a 20-year-old woman. She declined medical treatment from first responders. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old driving the Hyundai was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center for treatment.
The prosecutor’s office along with the Jersey City Police Department and the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit are collaborating to investigate the cause of the accident.
Based on state reports, this is the third fatal traffic accident in Hudson County this year. Last year, there were a total of 28 deadly traffic accidents, which resulted in 29 fatalities.
It is true that any traffic accident can have devastating consequences, but when the accident involves a head-on collision, the consequences tend to result in even greater devastation to all those involved. For the most part, head-on collisions tend to result in catastrophic injuries, but in many cases, these accidents tend to result in fatal injuries.
Typically, a car accident is considered a head-on collision when at least two vehicles collide with each other, front end to front end. Sadly, even when these accidents involve low speeds, the consequences can nonetheless be catastrophic.
The causes of head-on accidents are similar to other accidents as they typically involve driver negligence.
A leading cause of head-on auto accidents is distracted driving. When a driver is sending or reading text messages, looking at pictures, watching videos, or eating while driving, the person can divert his or her attention from the road ahead and this can result in a head-on auto accident. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that every day, approximately 8 people lose their lives in accidents involving at least one distracted driver in the U.S. In 2018, the number of people killed as a result of distracted driving was nearly 3,000.
A second major cause of head-on auto accidents is driving while inebriated or drugged. Driving while intoxicated is incredibly dangerous and a vast majority of drivers in the State of New Jersey recognize this. Still, many careless drivers willingly choose to ignore the dangers of driving while intoxicated and place their lives and the lives of those they share the road with at risk of serious injury or even death.
Driving while impaired can drastically affect a person’s ability to drive safely. Whether the intoxication derives from drugs and/or alcohol, the driver can experience a reduction in his or her reaction time, have blurred vision, and may become drowsy. The symptoms of intoxication can cause drivers to commit tragic mistakes that can affect innocent victims for a lifetime.
Many drivers, especially those who commute long distances, experience driver fatigue regularly. Driver fatigue is another major cause of head-on auto accidents in New Jersey. Whenever a driver struggles to stay awake or begins to fall asleep while driving, the sleepy driver can veer into oncoming traffic.
Driver fatigue can have serious consequences and for this reason, authorities will usually encourage drivers to take a break when needed. Pulling over to take a nap, eat a snack, or grab a drink can be life-saving when a person is feeling sleepy while driving.
A final major cause of head-on collisions in New Jersey is speeding. Driving recklessly not only increases the risk of an accident happening but when the accident involves speeding, there is also a greater risk of catastrophic injuries. Even when a driver is not exceeding speed limits, driving fast for road and weather conditions can also result in devastating injuries. A person who speeds could easily lose control of his or her vehicle and drive into oncoming traffic, which may result in a fatal accident.
When the reckless actions or negligence of another person leads to a head-on collision that results in serious injuries, the injured victims may have the opportunity to pursue additional compensation for their damages. Depending on the facts of the case, the injured person can obtain additional compensation from the at-fault party for a loss of wages, incurred medical costs, loss of future earnings, and the need to have surgery.
If you or someone you love was recently hurt in a head-on collision in New Jersey, it is highly recommended to seek immediate support from a qualified personal injury attorney who has the skills and experience in handling these types of horrific traffic accidents. With the right legal support, it may be possible to obtain necessary compensation to cover the expenses caused by the accident.
Over the years, the attorneys at Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC have worked tenaciously and passionately to bring justice to the victims of head-on auto accidents caused by the negligence of someone else. The law firm is proud to represent clients from all over the state, and they look forward to representing your case. Consider contacting the attorneys at Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC to schedule a complimentary case evaluation today.
