A motorist went to park her car and ended up crashing through the wall of the Social Security Office in New Jersey Tuesday morning, November 13, 2018. Most of the injuries were minor bumps and bruises, however, some were more severe, and three people were listed as critical.
A man inside the office pulled one of the victims from underneath the car. According to 6ABC.com, the man said “Honestly, I don’t know how I did it. I mean, I pulled the lady out from underneath the car and got her out and came to find out she’s in very, very bad shape,” he said.
The driver of the car was with a child and another adult and was allegedly attempting to park the car when it lurched forward into the building. Official deemed the building structurally unsound and have closed it until further notice. Police say that though no charges have been filed, there may be charges pending.
Vehicle and Building Collisions Cause Unique Problems
Vehicles smashing into buildings happen as much as 60 times a day across the United States, according to the Texas Traffic Institute at Texas A&M University. Out of those, gas and convenience stores make up one third of these collision which cause around $200 million in damages.
The location of the building plays a large roll in the number of accidents as gas and convenience stores are typically in high-traffic areas. When it comes to out of the way office buildings, location is still a factor as many are facing a busy parking lot or a vehicle through way.
What Happens When a Car Collides With a Building?
Many of the injuries sustained by cars hitting buildings come from flying glass and debris which often cause deep lacerations and broken bones. Traumatic head injuries are common as many of the victims are not as protected as they would have been in a vehicle. The impact is sudden often with no time to take defensive action.
What Should I do?
Many victims of building collisions do not seek compensation from the driver as they feel that their injuries may not be severe enough, or that there are already multiple victims with injuries far worse that theirs. If you’ve been injured in one of these accident, don’t make the mistake of doing nothing. Talk to an attorney who can evaluate your claim to see what damages your are entitled to. The following are possible damages that come naturally from vehicle-building collisions:
- Medical Bills/Pain and Suffering,
- Emotional Distress/PTSD,
- Lost Time From Work,
- Property Damage (Cell phones, other personal items).
Were you involved in a crash?
If you are involved in any type of pedestrian, auto or other accident in Pennsylvania or New Jersey and sustained a serious injury, call us and talk to one of our attorneys at The Pearce Law Firm, PC, to see if you are entitled to any recovery. We know the laws regarding all types of crashes, and we also know the tactics of insurance companies who will try and deny your claim. Call us today at (215) 596 4070 or text at (215) 880 6164. You can also send us a message online by clicking here.