Hanging Out Of The Sunroof? Just One Of The Mistakes In This Crash

The period of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known by the moniker of “The 100 Deadliest Days” because it is the time when most teen drivers, the least experienced drivers among us, are out on the roads and are making dangerous mistakes that can have deadly consequences. Such is the case in a recent accident in Orange where one man was killed and four others were injured after some serious mistakes were made.

Whenever there is a New Haven auto accident it is important to make sure everyone gets the medical attention they need and the truth is discovered about what happened. Then it is important to review the circumstances of the accident and learn from them so these mistakes are not made again. In the case of this most recent accident in Orange there were many mistakes made and unfortunately one of the passengers involved in the crash lost their lives because of them.

While some mistakes that were made are more egregious then others, they should all be identified and discussed so anyone who is thinking about making these mistakes again may think twice which could potentially save a life.

Mistake #1: Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The driver of the vehicle, who was just 19 years of age, was driving after drinking alcohol and doing illicit drugs. When you are impaired your vision is often blurry, your decisions are often slower and your reaction time to the circumstances on the road is reduced. These factors can lead to a very dangerous situation and make your chances of getting into an accident skyrocket. On top of all of that, it is illegal and can get you arrested, fined and force you to lose your license.

Mistake #2: At the time of the crash one of the passengers of the vehicle was standing with his head out of the sunroof while the vehicle was moving. While the driver was driving recklessly, the man who was a passenger in the back seat of the vehicle had his head and body up through the sunroof which is also against the law. Not only is it against the law, but it can also be deadly, as it was in this case. After the crash, the man was rushed to the emergency room and was pronounced dead. You should never be traveling in a moving vehicle with any part of your body outside of the confines of the car. Even something as simple as hanging your arm out of your window could lead to a serious injury.

Mistake #3: Not following traffic signals. The driver of the vehicle, while under the influence, did not pay attention to the traffic signals which lead to the crash involving another vehicle after the two collided in the middle of the intersection. Of course, traffic signals are intended to keep everyone safe and traffic flowing in a consistent pattern that avoids crashes, if they are not followed it can lead to disastrous results as it did in this case. If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you should not be behind the wheel at all. If you are sober, you should always follow traffic signals so you can make sure you are keeping yourself and your passengers safe.

In this incident the driver of the vehicle, while living with the fact that his actions lead to the death of someone in his vehicle, is also faced with traffic charges stemming from the accident including driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, reckless driving, misconduct with a motor vehicle, driving with riders on the outside of the vehicle and violating a traffic control signal. Each one of these mistakes alone could have led to a New Haven auto accident, but taken together resulted in a serious accident that led to the death of one of his passengers. Mistakes do happen, but taking steps to prevent them is your safest bet to avoid getting into a crash.

If you’ve been injured in an accident you may need to speak with an attorney to review your situation. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will speak with you about your particular situation and work with you on how to protect your long-term interests.