In a tragic turn of events, John Nash of Princeton, New Jersey, and his wife, Alicia, were killed while riding home in a cab from Newark International Airport. Mr. Nash was an internationally-known and highly-regarded mathematician, made famous by his depiction in the film “A Beautiful Mind,” which discussed his professional achievements and his struggle with mental illness. The Nashes were on their way home from an international conference when their cab driver, who had only driven a cab for two weeks prior to the fatal crash, attempted to pass a car by using the left lane to go around him, collided with a different car, and was sent into the center guard rail. Neither of the Nashes were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. They were both ejected from the cab and died at the scene of the accident. The cab driver survived and is reportedly now in good condition. 

New Jersey Law requires both drivers and passengers in the front and back seats of a vehicle to wear seatbelts. The seatbelt law is “secondary,” meaning that a police officer can only issue a citation to individuals who are over 18 for failing to wear a seatbelt when the officer has already pulled the vehicle over on a different issue. Since the Nashes were violating the seatbelt law at the time of their death, a wrongful death lawsuit against the cab driver for his negligence in driving the cab might be diminished, if a jury finds that the Nashes were partially responsible for their deaths.
Seatbelt laws exist for good reason:
*Seatbelts are believed to have saved some 63,000 lives in the United States in the five-year period between 2008 and 2012.
*It is believed that 52% of fatalities in motor vehicle accidents were not using seatbelts at the time of the fatal crash.
*Some 700 drivers and front seat passengers who failed to use seatbelts were thrown from their vehicles during a crash and killed over the past 10 years.
*The Taxi and Limousine Commission has found that only 38% of passengers use seatbelts available in cabs.
Car accidents can be traumatic, and costly. If you or a loved one has been injured or worse in a New Jersey car accident, finding knowledgeable legal assistance can help ensure that you receive the compensation to which you are entitled for your property damage, medical bills, or lost wages. Contact the compassionate personal injury attorneys at Smith & Doran for a free consultation on your claims, at 973-292-0016.