Fatal Accident Remains Under Investigation in Edison, New Jersey

Edison, NJ (February 9th, 2022) – The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office along with the Edison Police Department announced that a fatal accident is under investigation.

On the evening of February 9th, just before 10:20 p.m., officers responded to reports of a traffic accident on the southbound lanes of Route 1 near Jeff St.

Upon arrival, responding officers located a vehicle containing four occupants that had collided with a tree. The vehicle’s driver was identified as 21-year-old Ziyad Elsaedi, a resident of North Plainfield. The driver along with the vehicle’s front passenger was rushed to a local hospital in addition to two other seriously wounded passengers. Elsaedi along with the vehicle’s front passenger were both pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The identity of the second deceased victim was being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin. She has now been identified by the prosecutor’s office as 19-year-old Meyvelin Nunez-Lopez, a resident of Plainfield.

While many auto accidents usually involve more than one vehicle, not every accident involves other drivers. In fact, single-vehicle accidents are much more common than we tend to realize. According to a recent report published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), more than 50 percent of the nation’s traffic accident-related deaths were single-vehicle accidents. In the State of New Jersey alone, 56 percent of traffic accidents were single-vehicle accidents that resulted in at least one fatality. When compared to multi-vehicle accidents, reports of fatalities among single-vehicle accidents were 314 for the 2019 year. The number of deaths in multi-vehicle accidents in the same year was 245.

The dangers of single-vehicle accidents are often disregarded, but it is clear that these accidents are very serious as they tend to have a higher rate of fatal injuries.

Another misconception when it comes to single-vehicle accidents is that of liability for the accident. When a person is involved in a single-vehicle accident, it is usually assumed that the driver is automatically responsible for the accident. Therefore, it is assumed that the driver will have to cover his or her own damages.

This, however, is not always the case. In many single-vehicle cases, drivers have a right to recover monetary damages from other at-fault parties who contributed to the cause of the accident. It is critical for motorists to understand their rights and responsibilities after an accident, and what legal options, if any, they may have for monetary recovery.

In the State of New Jersey, every motorist has a duty to drive in a manner that is reasonably responsible and in accordance with state traffic laws. A driver can be held responsible for the accident when his or her actions are the proximate cause of the accident. This means that the actions committed by the driver put the events in motion to cause the single-vehicle accident.

The driver of a single-vehicle accident can be held responsible when his or her actions involve reckless driving, such as speeding, driving too fast for road or weather conditions, passing red lights, driving while drunk or drugged, driving while fatigued, and driving while sleep-deprived.

As previously mentioned, however, some single-vehicle accidents can be caused by factors outside of the driver involved. For instance, another driver may be held accountable for the accident when his or her negligent actions played a role in causing the accident. Although an actual collision did not occur between the vehicles involved, the accident could have been caused by the other driver. Perhaps the other cut the victim off or pulled out in front of him or her, thus causing the victim to veer off the road and collide with a tree to avoid being hit. The other driver may be held accountable when it can be determined that his or her actions caused the accident.

Additionally, there are other factors that may have caused the single-vehicle accident, which were out of the driver’s control. For example, there may have been a vehicle malfunction that prevented the driver from operating his or her vehicle in a safe manner. Vehicle malfunctions can include defective brakes or steering systems, faulty vehicle designs, or even a defective accelerator. Whenever a single-vehicle accident was caused by a manufacturing or design defect, the manufacturing company, auto retailer, or auto designer can be held accountable for the victim’s damages.

Depending on the facts of the case, an injured victim may be able to obtain compensation for his or her damages from the at-fault party. In New Jersey, a damages award can include compensation for economic and non-economic losses, such as loss of income, loss of earning potential, medical costs, property damage, emotional distress, pain and suffering, disability, and even loss of quality of life.

In cases that involve wrongful death, the deceased’s family members can seek compensation on behalf of the victim for compensation.

If you or someone you love was recently hurt in a single-vehicle accident, it is important that you contact the qualified support of a well-versed personal injury attorney right away. A skilled attorney will take immediate action to secure critical evidence, work diligently to build a strong case against the at-fault party, and work aggressively to ensure the victim receives the highest compensation possible.

After being injured in a single-vehicle accident, consider obtaining the support of the attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. The determined litigators are well-versed in an array of auto accident cases, including complex single-vehicle accidents. The law firm understands that after these types of accidents, victims will generally fail to recognize that they can still hold a party responsible for their injuries. Fortunately, under New Jersey law, injured victims can recover monetary compensation for their losses after a single-vehicle accident.

To understand your rights and to protect your interests after a single-vehicle accident in New Jersey, consider contacting the proficient attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. You can obtain a complimentary case evaluation by completing the online contact form here. An attorney will begin working on your case as quickly as possible and help you advance your interests under New Jersey law.