Car accidents usually happen due to a driver’s negligence. Innocent motorists are unnecessarily injured because of such driver’s actions. Recently, however, one negligent driver got his just desserts after instigating a car accident with a motorist that turned out to be an Illinois State Trooper.
The incident occurred on Interstate 74 at around 11 p.m. At the time, the trooper was trying to pull over another vehicle when suddenly, a 25-year-old man from East Moline driving a pickup truck rear-ended the patrol vehicle. Instead of stopping, the driver fled the scene but was later stopped by police. He was charged with hit and run and fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in injury.
He also faced charges for driving under the influence and for operating a vehicle with a revoked license. The man was detained in Rock Island County Jail. The trooper sustained injuries that were considered non-life threatening.
Illinois car accident victims do not need to have a badge to hold a negligent driver legally responsible. Victims, with the assistance of a legal advocate, can file a personal injury lawsuit to hold a driver liable. An injured victim usually faces various problems like paying for medical expenses and loss of income, since a victim is unable to attend to their job. Such problems not only compromise the well-being of a victim, but also the victim’s family as well.
A personal injury lawsuit may help prevent further complications through a monetary award. The award can help an Illinois accident victim cover accident-related expenses while recovering from the injury. However, if the car accident resulted in the death of a victim, such a legal action may not be applicable. Instead, the surviving family of a victim may file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek justice and make a claim for monetary damages.
Source: WQAD, “East Moline man faces charges after crash involving state trooper,” Shellie Nelson, May 12, 2014