When fatalities occur in car accidents in New York state, accident reconstruction teams typically have the job to figure out what happened and who was at fault. The routine investigations usually include a hospital screen during which blood is generally drawn. These samples can be used later for toxicology testing if, for example, a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is filed in civil court, or criminal charges are brought against a driver.
Accident reconstructionists will also note the direction of travel, speed and other details of the time before the crash and the actual impact. Weather conditions will also be considered. All this will likely form part of an investigation into the death of two people in the early hours of a recent Sunday morning at an intersection in Buffalo.
A preliminary accident report indicates that two people, ages 33 and 32, were in a car that was struck by another vehicle. No mention is made of any injuries suffered by the 34-year-old driver of that car. The report noted that police were investigating whether alcohol played a role in this crash. The police captain said it was too soon to determine who was at fault, and whether criminal charges will be filed.
Regardless of whether criminal charges are filed, the surviving family members of the two deceased victims might have grounds to pursue claims for financial relief through the New York civil justice system. Wrongful death is a complicated field of the law, and an experienced personal injury attorney typically best navigates such lawsuits. Plaintiffs can claim recovery of funeral and burial costs, loss of income and other financial damages, along with emotional damages like pain and suffering and more.