BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Lisa Rabke was identified as the woman that died in an accident between a passenger car and a recycling truck that happened in Bridgewater, New Jersey on Wednesday, February 25th, 2015. News reports said that the accident happened at about 8:06 Wednesday morning.
Police said that 54-year-old Lisa Rabke was killed when the Honda Odyssey she was driving and a recycling truck collided for reasons currently under investigation while driving on Old York Road. The report said that the vehicle struck the rear of the truck, but did not say exactly how the accident happened.
Rabke died in the accident.
The New Jersey State Police are helping with the accident investigation.
Scene of the Accident
View of the Road
Commentary:
Many rear-end accidents are the fault of the rear car, but not all of them. With this accident, it is a real possibility that the accident may not have been the fault of the rear driver. How? Well, if the truck’s brake lights were not working, or were too covered in exhaust and road grime, or slush from the garbage, then how would the victim have been able to know that the truck was immobile? Additionally, was the truck stopped for a pickup, and if so, was it stopped legally in the roadway, was it protruding partially into a lane, blocking traffic? We’ve seen several cases where delivery trucks and garbage pickup vehicles park illegally to make a quick drop or a pickup when the vehicle is struck by a passing motorist who was following the law.
Furthermore, was this vehicle owned and operated by a city or county, or was it contracted by the city or county? It may seem like an inconsequential difference, but it is actually pretty big in the grand scheme of things. If the vehicle is owned and operated by the city, then victims and surviving families are going to have to navigate the maze set up by the government to shield themselves from claims, no matter how valid they may be. On the other hand, if this vehicle was contracted, things are going to be a little simpler, but in either case, moving quickly tends to yield the best outcomes for victims and survivors. Keep in mind that the window to file a claim against the government agency responsible may be considerably smaller than with a private entity, so again, being quick on the feet is usually in victims best interests.
— Grossman Law Offices
