In December 2011, a former law enforcement official with the Georgia State Patrol may have been responsible for a car accident that resulted in the death of a woman. The trooper involved in the incident was assisting another law enforcement official with a motorcycle pursuit at the time of the incident, and the victim and her family were traveling to a football game. The car that the victim was riding in had the right of way at an intersection when the trooper’s car crashed into it.
While the trooper had his siren and emergency lights on, he was driving over 30 miles over the posted speed limit and failed to even slow down at the intersection. The victim died as a result of the car accident. The man responsible for the car accident states that he will plead guilty to two of the three charges against him. He will not plead guilty to violating his oath, but he will agree to plead guilty to charges of vehicular homicide and reckless driving. For these charges, he could spend up to 15 years in prison. His trial is slated to begin in mid-April.
The trooper stated that he regrets the event that resulted in this woman’s death, and he could spend time in prison for his actions. However, the victim’s family may continue to suffer emotionally and financially from their loss. Because of the accident, they could be burdened with costly expenses related to healthcare bills, funeral bills and car repair bills. They may also be affected by lost wages.
Those who have been a victim in a car accident or who have lost a loved one could pursue civil justice with the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. A lawsuit may provide punitive damages to pay for the expenses related to the accident. A Georgia personal injury lawyer may provide victims with more information about this option and help build a strong case.
Source: WSBTV, “Former state trooper willing to plead guilty in deadly crash,” Jodie Fleischer, April 12, 2013