According to MyCentralJersey.com, on October 15, police responded to a wrong-way car accident involving an elderly driver on Route 1 in Woodbridge. 
Police said that a car driven by an elderly woman traveled northbound on the southbound lane of the highway at around 3:40 p.m. before it crashed into several vehicles. The crashes occurred near the Route 1 and Route 9 split.
MyCentralJersey.com reported that only minor injuries occurred during the incident. The crashes remain under investigation and charges are pending. The incident backed up traffic for several hours.
Why Do New Jersey Wrong-Way Accidents Occur?
We are thankful that nobody was seriously injured in this incident. Wrong-way crashes, which are often head-on, can be incredibly violent, resulting in catastrophic injuries for other drivers and passengers, or even death.
Incredibly, a 2011 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report estimated that drivers and passengers are 27 percent more likely to die in wrong-way accidents than standard crashes.
As the story above shows, wrong-way accidents can happen for a variety of reasons including drivers who are confused by roadway changes or who may be elderly. Additional reasons they occur include drunk driving, distracted driving, medical emergencies, debris in roadways and defective vehicle parts.
If you are ever involved in a wrong-way accident or your loved one has died, make sure you have it investigated by our Middlesex County injury lawyers. You should not have to suffer because of another driver’s negligence.
Because wrong-way crashes are often caused by carelessness, you may be able to hold another driver liable. Any damages you obtain through a lawsuit can be used to pay for injury treatment, medical bills and/or burial costs associated with the crash.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for further reading about New Jersey vehicle accidents. You can speak to someone directly from our Middlesex County law firm now by calling (732) 636-3030.
If you have an older driver in your family that you think may be a danger to others, make sure you talk to him or her about driving responsibly. This can be a difficult conversation to have, but it may prevent him or her from being involved in a violent collision or hurting others.
Many communities offer free or low-cost public transportation options for seniors who can no longer drive. Additionally, AARP, Inc. has an excellent guide and online seminar about how to bring this subject up.
Spevack Law Firm – Middlesex County Injury Attorneys
