Wreck on the Highway

New Jersey drivers… we don’t typically enjoy a stellar reputation in the lower 48. Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen has quite a few songs about driving. Notably, “Wreck on the Highway.” It’s a sad, tragic tale of a young man who met his demise “on a deserted stretch of a county two-lane.”

If you’re interested in actual numbers, the state department of transportation has crash data going back twenty years. Soberingly, New Jersey traffic-related deaths are outpacing the national average, which is already on the uptick. Some advocates are calling for more crash avoidance technology features in vehicles.

MoneyGeek has also done an excellent job of compiling data. They’ve determined the most dangerous stretch of road in NJ is in Stratford, Camden County, NJ, while the deadliest county is Middlesex. Nearly ¼ of fatal accidents were attributed to driving under the influence while another ¼ were attributable to distracted driving. 

Whether you’re a data junkie or not, actual numbers mean very little until something strikes close to home. It would be wonderful if technology could solve all the problems by eliminating the precipitating factors, but not every driver can afford a top-of-the-line vehicle. It could be decades before a significant number of technologically-outfitted “safe” vehicles are the overwhelming majority on the roads. So we can’t put all of our eggs in the tech basket. Public transportation is a fantastic option if routes are convenient to your home and your place of business. But the infrastructure for many New Jerseyans still isn’t in place.

We can’t always avoid using our vehicles. New Jerseyans drive about 8000 miles per year. With these numbers, a wreck on the highway is only a matter of time. So what recourse do you have if you or a loved one are injured, disfigured, or even killed in an accident? Personal Injury law is a nuanced practice area and there are plenty of options open to victims seeking justice and compensation. Even the State of New Jersey has been on the hook for some large transit-related payouts.

Money can’t dampen the pain of a fractured bone or fill the void created by the tragic demise of a loved one. But it can make life easier by supplementing lost wages or paying for care, and it can send a message to the responsible parties that they need to make changes to avoid repeating their mistakes in the future.

Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and determine what course of action may be available to you, and what compensation may be owed to you.