Most Connecticut drivers do their best to drive safely, obey the laws and avoid a crash. A fatal auto accident is often the result of driver error or some other form of negligence. The surviving families of deceased victims have legal recourse available in many of these situations. A recent accident that took the life of a woman from Hamden, though it appears she was the culpable party.
The woman was driving on Interstate 91 when she caused a serious accident. For some reason, she was driving in the wrong direction along the highway and struck a pickup truck head on. It is unclear at this time what led to the woman’s seemingly careless mistake, though further details may become available once the official investigation is completed.
The pickup was driven by a local police officer who was in his personal vehicle, on his way home after work. He suffered serious injuries and was listed in critical condition. Both drivers were trapped in their damaged vehicles. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene and extracted the drivers from the vehicles. The wrong-way driver did not survive the accident, and the prognosis for the officer was unclear.
In this fatal auto accident, the person responsible for the collision died. Nevertheless, her estate may be able to pursue a claim against the deceased woman’s auto insurance policy. Separately, the seriously injured off-duty police officer has grounds for a personal injury claim in Connecticut against the decedent’s estate and any other party with an ownership interest in the vehicle the woman was driving.
