Chain-Reaction Crash Kills Two, Ice Blamed
A woman and her three-year-old son were killed in a crash on Interstate 684 in Westchester County at the end of December, the victims of a multi-vehicle crash that involved six vehicles and sent several other people to the hospital. Icy road conditions may have been to blame, and at last report, no charges had been filed.
Weather a Possible Factor
The crash, just south of Exit 4 in Bedford, took place around 2:30 p.m. on December 30. It was very cold that day with a small amount of snow, and while the specific reasons for the backup are not known, some cars had come to a complete stop in the southbound lanes of the highway. The driver of a box truck failed to stop for the backup and crashed into the rear of the victims’ car. Both vehicles became part of a larger crash that pulled in four other cars.
The driver of the first car, a woman from Lee, Massachusetts, and her son were killed in the crash. The wife of the driver was hospitalized with minor injuries, as were several occupants of the other vehicles. The driver of the box truck was not injured.
Bad Weather Isn’t an Excuse for Bad Driving
A number of other minor accidents were said by police to have happened on area roads that day, and most were probably due to the weather.
But bad weather doesn’t let drivers off the hook when they cause a crash. Even though some traffic researchers believe that bad weather is a factor in about 25 percent of crashes, the US Department of Transportation has determined that about 94 percent of all crashes are due to human error.
They haven’t been shy about pointing out that it’s more likely a bad decision by a driver—not bad weather conditions—that leads to a crash. Driving too fast or not leaving enough braking room between you and the vehicle in front of you, for instance, is a bad decision.
New York state law agrees: Even though we have roads with posted limits as high as 65 mph, drivers are expected to drive at speeds that are “reasonable and prudent under the conditions.” There are very few times when driving at high speed on a snow-covered road is reasonable or prudent.
Westchester Truck Accident Lawyer
In a tragic crash like this one, a lawsuit may not be the first thing on a survivor’s mind, but it’s often a necessary step to cover medical expenses, lost wages and income, and the costs of future rehabilitation and care. It might also be the only way to extract some measure of justice from a negligent driver whose actions took the life of a loved one.
At Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP, we understand the emotions that a family will face after this kind of incident. We’ve helped many accident victims reach successful settlements with those who caused them harm or loss.
Give our experienced team of car and truck accident lawyers a call today to discuss your case free of charge. Our number is 1-800-VICTIM2 (842-8462), or you can contact us online through the form below for more information.
