The bravery of police officers saved the lives of two people who were trapped in a burning car in New York on a recent Thursday morning. This was one of those car accidents in which an alleged drunk driver put the lives of passengers on the line. A 22-year-old man was arrested after he received treatment for injuries that were reported to be non-life threatening.
An accident report indicates that the driver lost control of his vehicle in a bend and smashed into the stone wall of a West Islip home. The crash caused the car to burst into flames, and only the driver managed to get out. When law enforcement arrived, they realized that there were two passengers still inside the vehicle.
While some officers used fire extinguishers to control the flames, others worked on getting the passengers out of the car. After having to battle a damaged car door that would not open, the officers finally extricated both victims and rushed them to a hospital, where they were determined to be in critical condition. Firefighters then took over and extinguished the fire.
Whenever passengers suffer injuries in car accidents that were caused by negligent drivers, they may seek financial relief. Victims may file personal injury lawsuits in a New York civil court against such drivers, and with proof of negligence, they might be able to recover damages. Resources are available to assist with the legal proceedings that might lead to monetary judgments. With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, victims can receive damages to help with medical expenses, lost income and other economic losses, as well as potential compensation for emotional damages such as pain and suffering.
Source: West Islip, NY Patch, “Police ID Alleged Drunken Driver In West Islip Crash“, Priscila Korb, Feb. 15, 2018
