A Mobile gas station in New Haven is closed until clean-up work is completed. The station was the scene of a fatal car accident that took the lives of the driver and his passenger and injured a third man. Witness reports indicate that the driver was headed westbound on Route 63 when he failed to make the turn he intended. He struck the curb and was launched into the air, crashing into the canopy over the gas pumps at the station.

The driver and his passenger were dead at the scene. A third man that was injured got himself out of his vehicle and was treated by New Haven EMS, and then taken to a local hospital. Police are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the crash.

In cases where the driver who is deemed to have been at fault in an accident is killed, it can be more difficult for investigators to determine why the accident occurred. However forensic investigations and witnesses to the accident can yield substantial evidence that may confirm whether the driver was negligent. This information is important for the injured victim, particularly if a personal injury claim to recover monetary damages sustained is contemplated. It might also be useful for the family of the passenger who was killed in the event that his loved ones decide to pursue a wrongful death claim based upon claims of negligence against other parties to the crash.

In these types of accidents, the process of filing an action for damages suffered in a fatal car accident can be more complicated since the person who is deemed to have been responsible is deceased. This means that the legal claims would need to be filed against the driver’s estate and any separate owner of the vehicle he was operating. There may also be insurance companies and other authorities to contact. Knowing how these processes function can be helpful information to have when deciding how best to proceed for your particular case.

Source: Hartford Courant, “Fatal Crash Closes Route 63 In New Haven,” June 20, 2013