A 24-year-old North Haven man has died following an accident Monday on Interstate 91. His passenger, a 24-year-old Meridien woman, remains in critical condition at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

The car accident occurred around 10 p.m. when the vehicle, which was the woman’s but was being driven by the man, left the road and struck a tree. Neither the man nor the woman was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

So, why are we telling you about a one-car accident? Doesn’t it usually take two to tango, so to speak?

Yes, but not always.

For instance, let’s look at what might happen if you are hurt driving someone else’s car. It could be your fault, but the driver could bear some responsibility, too, if he or she knew the car was not properly maintained and took no steps to fix it, thus putting you in harm’s way

Or, what if you’re a passenger in the car and you are hurt when the driver gets into an accident? That isn’t necessarily one of those situations that is no one’s fault. If the driver was speeding, intoxicated or driving recklessly given the weather conditions, you might be able to sue him or her for negligence.

The overall point we are trying to make here is that car accidents are rarely clear-cut situations. There are almost always nuances, shades of responsibility and unforeseen factors or circumstances. That’s just how life works.

In our office, however, we know that and react accordingly. We understand the importance of thoroughness and attention to detail. In fact, it’s something we pride ourselves on.

Source: The Hartford Courant, “I-91 Crash Leaves One Dead, Another In Critical Condition,” Christine Dempsey and Cory Ziman, Nov. 26, 2012