Man Charged in Accident that Injured State Trooper

A man from Ronkonkoma was arrested and charged with driving while impaired after he caused a rear-end collision with a State Police cruiser, injuring the trooper in the vehicle.

The accident occurred on the morning of Thursday, August 6. According to authorities, the 45-year-old man was driving his 2019 Chevrolet Blazer just before 11:30 a.m. on Wantagh State Parkway in Hempstead when he collided with the trooper’s patrol car parked on the shoulder on the southbound side.

As a result, the man faces charges of driving while impaired with a combination of drugs and alcohol, as well as three counts of third-degree assault, two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree driving while impaired by drugs. The trooper’s injuries were not considered life-threatening.

The man driving the Blazer was uninjured in the accident.

Impaired driving also results in liability

All drivers are expected to be completely sober when behind the wheel. There are a variety of criminal offenses for people who take the wheel while drunk, ranging from misdemeanor offenses to significant felonies and prison time, depending on the results of their actions and whether or not there were any injuries or deaths in ensuing accidents.

A person who drives while under the influence of drugs or alcohol isn’t just likely to be charged with crimes—they also face potential liability in civil personal injury lawsuits. A charge and conviction for an impairment-related crime will serve as tangible proof of negligence in an accident case, and show the defendant as having been liable for the accident and resulting injuries.

To learn more about the legal options available to you if you have been injured in an accident caused by a person who was drunk or high while behind the wheel of their vehicle, contact an experienced accident lawyer at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia LLP.