Car accident in Manhattan leaves 1 dead, 1 injured

The New York City Police Department is investigating a crash that occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 20, in Manhattan. They say the driver died in the car accident and a passenger was left with significant injuries. While the driver may not have survived, according to state laws, the injured victim may be entitled to seek compensation for his losses.

According to a recent report, a witness told investigators that he saw a sedan driving the wrong direction on 155th Street. The sedan then struck and went through a stone barrier and fell roughly 20 feet into a cemetery below. The vehicle landed on its top and then a fire broke out. The passenger — a 37-year-old male — was able to get out of the sedan but the driver was not. The passenger was taken to an area hospital with critical injuries.

Police have not released the names of the driver or the passenger to the public. At this time, authorities have not indicated what factors they believe may have contributed to this wreck. The weather was poor, so investigators are looking into whether that played a role in this incident.

When a single-vehicle car accident occurs and a passenger suffers injuries, the driver may be held responsible for the passenger’s losses. As the driver did not survive this particular event, it does not mean that the injured victim loses his right to seek compensation. A compensation agreement may be negotiated with the driver’s insurance company. If negotiations fail, the issue can be litigated in a New York civil court by filing a personal injury claim against the driver’s estate.