N.J. Driver Convicted of Death Caused by Texting-While Driving

Fatal Pedestrian Accident Caused by Distracted Driving Accident

A Monmouth County jury convicted Alexandra Mansonet, 50, on Friday, November 22, 2019 for the vehicular homicide of Yuwen Wang, 39.

Driver Arrested Following Fatal Collision

Wang was crossing the road while taking a walk during a short break from work. Wang was struck by a vehicle that had been rear-ended by Mansonet. Mansonet was following a vehicle while heading southbound on Laurel Avenue in Hazlet, NJ on September 28, 2016. Mansonet failed to come to a stop while the vehicle in front of her was stopped, rear-ending that vehicle and sending it into an impact with Wang, who later died from her injuries at a local hospital.

State Alleges Driver Was Texting Behind the Wheel

Monmouth County prosecutors charged Mansonet with vehicular homicide, alleging that she was texting on her cell phone in the moments prior to the crash. Specifically, prosecutors argued that Mansonet was distracted by a text from a family member asking about dinner plans. Prosecutors alleged that Mansonet never hit her brakes before impacting the vehicle in front of her.

Mansonet testified in her own defense, denying that she was responding to text messages; she claimed that she had read the message before leaving for work. Instead, Mansonet testified that she was turning off her windshield wipers and turning on the front defroster when she looked up, too late to stop and avoid impacting the vehicle in front of her. Mansonset later allowed investigators to examine her cell phone.

Jury Convicts Driver on Vehicular Homicide Charge

The jury ultimately returned a verdict finding Mansonet guilty of vehicular homicide arising from Wang’s death. Mansonet now faces up to 10 years’ incarceration for her conviction.

In addition, the jury’s verdict in this case should also reinforce the fact that drivers can be held responsible for their conduct when they choose to text and drive. If texting behind the wheel is a basis to impose criminal liability when it causes an accident resulting in serious or fatal injuries, it should also serve as a legal basis to find a driver negligent in a civil personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit arising from an accident.

If you or a loved one have been seriously harmed in a motor vehicle accident that you believed was caused by a driver who was texting behind the wheel, it is critical that you retain the services of an experienced attorney. It may be possible to recover evidence that the driver was using his or her cell phone in the moments before an accident, including text or call logs or mobile application use logs. When you are able to prove that the other driver in your accident was using his or her phone, it can serve as strong evidence of the driver’s negligence in a personal injury or wrongful death action arising from a motor vehicle accident.

Contact an Edison Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Motor Vehicle Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a distracted driving accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lombardi and Lombardi, P.A. represent clients injured because of motor vehicle accidents in Woodbridge, Old Bridge, Piscataway, New Brunswick, and throughout New Jersey. Call (732) 906-1500 or email us to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 1862 Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ 08820, as well as offices in Brick, Freehold, and Point Pleasant Beach.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.