Some car accidents make a bigger impact than others. The impact is not always because of the number of casualties or the horrific details. Sometimes car accidents just seem more tragic because of how they hit loved ones. A recent accident in New York seems to have made a larger impact on the community than others, and perhaps will lead to at least one personal injury case.

According to reports, a livery cab driver had picked up his fare and the two were headed to one of New York's airports. It appears that they were only a short distance from the passenger's home when the lives of both of their families were changed forever. As the cab driver drove southbound, a northbound SUV reportedly lost control, came over the median and tore the roof off the cab's car. The SUV then allegedly hit another SUV and then the overpass, before landing upside down and coming to a stop.

The two occupants of the cab were pronounced dead on the scene. Gruesome reports indicate that one of them was decapitated when the roof was torn off. One witness to the crash who tried to help reported that there were body parts in the road. Each of the deceased men leaves behind a wife and several children.

The driver of the SUV who caused the crash survived, as did the passenger he was transporting. They suffered serious injuries, however. The woman and her son who was in the other SUV that was struck suffered minor injuries. All four were sent to a local hospital for treatment.

At last reports, authorities were pursuing a court order to obtain a blood sample to determine if the driver of the SUV who caused the crash was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The victims who survived this terrible accident may pursue civil litigation if there is proof of reckless and negligent driving. A successful personal injury claim may award compensation that can cover the costs of medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages, among other things. Similarly, the families who lost loved ones may be able to pursue wrongful death claims, which can cover the costs of pain and suffering, final expenses and loss of companionship.

Source: New York Daily News, Wells Fargo banker, livery cab driver killed in Bronx crash that left one of them decapitated, Clare Trapasso, Erik Badia, Larry McShane and Joseph Stepansky, Nov. 10, 2013