Illinois officer who was injuried in an auto accident files claim

On Behalf of Johnston Law Offices P.C   |   Feb 18, 2014   |   Car Accidents ,

Following up on our blog post from Feb. 11, 2014, titled “1 dead, 1 injured in Illinois auto accident on Interstate 88″, readers may be interested to know that the injured officer has now filed a claim against the driver of the truck and his employer. The officer was assisting a disabled vehicle and a tow truck when the auto accident occurred. A semitrailer crashed into the emergency vehicles, killing a tollway worker and seriously injuring the state trooper.

The wounded man, who has been kept under sedation since the accident, is reported to have suffered multiple lacerations to his head and face along with fractures to his collarbone and ribs. Furthermore, he sustained burns that were graded as second and third degree. The injured man and his wife have filed a claim for more than $1 million in restitution for pain and suffering as well financial damages.

The driver of the semitrailer and his employer are facing multiple felony charges after reports surfaced that he was allegedly driving while fatigued. He apparently fell asleep while driving a shift of over 36 hours, and it was discovered that he falsified his log entries. Failing to yield and to reduce speed in the presence of an emergency vehicle are two of the charges that he faces. His employer was reported to have a history of non-compliance of safety regulations.

When an individual has suffered serious injuries in an auto accident that was caused by another party, he or she may retain the right to file a personal injury claim in an Illinois court. If there is adequate evidence to show that negligence by the accused party may have substantially contributed to the accident, the court may consider punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. Medical expenses and loss of income can be devastating after such accidents and any restitution awarded by the court may help the victim cover at least some of those costs.

Source: chicagotribune.com, Trooper hurt in crash that killed worker sues trucker, company, Meredith Rodriguez, Feb. 11, 2014