Deadly Crashes that Ruin Lives

Fatal car accidents are the most devastating of all vehicle accidents. Crashes occur without warning and within seconds, a person's life is changed or even lost. This was the case regarding a recent car accident that involved a two-vehicle crash in Southold. The accident occurred on Route 48 in Mattituck on July 5 when a Ford SUV ran a red light. The SUV crashed into a Honda Civic that was stopped at the intersection.

The Suffolk Times published an article with details about the accident. The driver of the SUV was Richard Morabito, age 40. His vehicle rear-ended the Honda Civic, driven by John Vincent, age 24, a Huntington resident. The impact mangled the Honda Civic, one person died and four people suffered injuries. Police closed the road for three hours while investigating the accident scene. As of yet, they have not announced any criminal charges.

Rebecca Connelly, a passenger in the Honda Civic died as a result of the accident. She was 23 years old, a graduate of Bacon Academy and also a graduate of Hofstra University in 2018. John Vicente suffered from head trauma and short-term memory, but doctors expected him to fully recover. He and Rebecca had dated for several years prior to the accident. The loss was devastating for him.

A Legal Perspective of the Accident

Clearly, in this particular accident, the driver of the SUV was at fault due to running a red light. Also, in rear-end accidents, courts typically assign fault to the driver that rear-ended the other vehicle. In a wrongful death lawsuit, families seek compensation for economic losses incurred as a result of the death. Injured parties would seek damages based on medical expenses to treat injuries and to recover lost wages. In New York, any accident that results in costs exceeding $50,000, serious injuries or in death would be subject to third party lawsuits. Pain and suffering are non-economic damages that claimants may also pursue in personal injury lawsuits.

Do You Have Questions about Fatal Car Accident Cases?

At Sackstein, Sackstein & Lee, LLP, we are glad to answer your questions and offer a free consultation to evaluate your case.