Vehicle accidents that result in serious injuries or fatalities can be tragic for all parties involved. When a court rules that one driver caused the accident, victims may seek compensation for damages from that person, even if the driver does not feel he is at fault. Somerville readers may be interested in a case that involves a retired police officer, a group of New Jersey residents and a motorcycle accident that killed two.
On Jan. 14, a retired police officer was sentenced to three to nine years in prison for his part in an accident that killed two men, one 52 and one 47. Both deceased men were part of a New Jersey motorcycle club that was traveling to attend a funeral. According to reports, the retired police officer was driving a pickup truck when he ran into the group of motorcyclists.
According to the driver’s attorney, the crash, which took place in Bangor, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 2011, was caused by a hypoglycemic attack. According to court documents, the man was returning home from fishing and had several drinks before driving home. The man was convicted of drunk driving and involuntary manslaughter.
The judge in the case stated that the sentence took into account the fact that the man did not have a prior criminal record, though she did berate him for what she called a lack of remorse. According to the man’s attorney, he will appeal the conviction on the basis that the crash was related to a medical condition.
In a case that involves an inattentive driver, victims may be entitled to compensation. The possible involvement of medical issues does not rule out a finding that the driver was negligent, so those involved in a motorcycle or other accident should ensure that a proper investigation is completed. They should also understand how a criminal case might affect any civil action when seeking compensation.
Source: Northjersey.com, “Tears for deceased Passaic County bikers as judge sentences driver in crash ,” Jeff Green, Jan. 14, 2013.