Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Woman Dies In Fiery Single-Car Accident in Oak Bluffs

February 4, 2010 - Oak Bluffs - A 37-year-old Edgartown woman died Monday evening in a fiery crash that occurred near a hospital parking lot.

According to The Martha's Vineyard Times, Rachel Dow died after her 1988 Acura Legend drove into the woods and caught fire in a tragic single-vehicle accident.

Witnesses said that at about 5:45 p.m., Dow was driving in the Martha's Vineyard Hospital parking lot, when she quickly drove away, crossed the road and crashed into the woods.

Officials believe crash victim Rachel Dow had a medical emergency that caused her to keep her foot on the Acura's gas pedal, thereby causing the car to drive into the woods. Witnesses said that the car's tires continued to spin even after the vehicle crashed. Authorities believe this may have caused the vehicle to ignite.

Accident victim Dow was critically injured in the fatal crash and was unresponsive when medical officials arrived. Dow was pronounced dead after she was transported to Martha's Vineyard Hospital.  

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2008 Massachusetts Crash Statistics, there were 363 fatalities as a result of car accidents in Massachusetts.

We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Rachel Dow for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Our heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved Dow. Please keep them in your prayers.

Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer

It would be in the Dow family's best interest to contact an experienced Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts personal injury lawyer, who can analyze all elements of this tragic accident and ensure they get the justice and compensation they rightfully deserve. In any fatal car accident case involving a negligent driver, families of deceased victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for medical/funeral expenses and other damages.

A qualified car accident lawyer should also look into whether there was a dangerous condition on the roadway. If such a condition caused or contributed to this fatal car accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that particular roadway could be held liable. Massachusetts has a statute of limitations which may prevent you from filing a claim against a governmental agency if too much time has passed.