An 89-year-old New Jersey man was critically injured when an SUV crashed through the front entrance of a fast food establishment in Bayonne on Feb. 19. Authorities said the accident happened around 3:12 p.m.
Bayonne police said the man was eating inside the Wendy’s on Lefante Way when a BMW SUV smashed 10 feet into the restaurant, stopping just short of the building’s opposite wall. The victim, a Bayonne resident, was hit by the SUV and thrown against a wall before becoming trapped beneath the vehicle’s tires. Emergency crews transported him to the Intensive Care Unit of Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health where he later underwent surgery. A 12-year-old boy was also taken to the hospital with minor abrasions. He was treated and released.
Witnesses said the BMW driver, a 77-year-old Bayonne woman, appeared to be in shock following the accident. Authorities determined she was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and the incident appeared to be accidental. She has not yet been issued any citations or charged with any crimes. The crash remains under investigation.
Anyone who suffers injuries in a car accident may wish to consult with an attorney. Even in cases where authorities choose not to charge the driver who caused an accident, injured victims may seek compensation for damages. By using crash investigation results, witness accounts and other evidence, a lawyer could prove the at-fault driver is legally responsible for a client’s injuries. If the claim is successful in court, the victim could receive a settlement for economic and non-economic losses, including medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages.
Source: NJ.com, “89-year-old man in ‘critical condition’ after car slams into Wendy’s in Bayonne”, Jonathan Lin, Feb. 20, 2015
