A 36-year-old man may face a long recovery after sustaining a serious head trauma from a car accident on Dec. 22. The injured man is a New York City police officer. He was a passenger in a vehicle that was being driven by another off-duty New York City police officer. The driver has been charged with drunk driving and vehicular assault.
The car accident happened around 4:30 a.m. near the Cross Bronx Expressway. The injured police officer was taken to Jacobi Hospital after the accident. He is said to be in critical, but stable condition. According to the victim’s family, the man was put in a medically induced coma, but had awakened in recent days.
The two police officers are East Village housing officers. The alleged drunk driver has been suspended from his police duties since the accident.
Car accidents are a frequent occurrence in New York City, but this particular incident is a clear case of negligence. When someone acts in a reckless or negligent manner, they should be held accountable for their actions.
The victim will likely face large medical bills, and may be unable to work for a period of time. Because of that, the driver of the vehicle may also face a personal injury lawsuit, in addition to the serious criminal charges.
A car accident can be life-changing, but there are places to turn for assistance. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney may prove to be very beneficial. An attorney can fight to be sure that a car accident victim receives the necessary compensation they deserve.
Source: New York Post, “Cop charged with drunk driving and vehicular assault after accident on Bronx River Parkway,” Josh Saul and Rebecca Harshbarger, Dec. 24, 2011