These numbers are unfortunately not new. According to a 2008 report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, one if every five fatal car crashes in the United States each year involved a driver who either doesn’t have a valid driver’s license or doesn’t have a license at all. It’s statistics like this that make you almost want to stay off the road!
So what happens if you get into a fatal auto accident with an unlicensed driver? For instance, you’re driving your sick mother to the doctor’s office when you get into a serious accident at an intersection. Your mother is instantly killed and you are seriously injured. You learn later that the other driver had a suspended license at the time of the accident and shouldn’t have been driving. What can you do?
Chances are, that unlicensed driver will have some criminal charges stacked against him/her. But not only can you sue the driver for personal injury, but you also have a wrongful death case on your hands. Under New Jersey’s wrongful death law, your family members have the right to financial compensation for:
- Loss of family income
- Funeral expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Any other damages caused by the accident
If you were involved in a fatal auto accident with an unlicensed driver, you’re going to need legal help right away. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone now for a free consultation.