Imagine walking toward your parked car only to find out that someone has crashed into it and damaged it while you were away. Your initial response will probably be a blaze of anger, but you will calm down when you realize that it will be easier to get your car insurance to pay for this than for most claims since there is zero chance that this accident could be your fault. Eventually, this will become a funny story about how bad luck manages to find you against all odds.
It is almost impossible to see the humor, though, if you are in the car when someone collides with it. The severity of injuries tends to increase proportionally to the speed which the striking vehicle is traveling, regardless of the speed of the struck vehicle or even if the struck vehicle was stationary at the time of impact. To make matters worse, it is almost impossible to drive a parked car out of the way as a speeding car approaches the parking space or road shoulder where you have parked. If you have suffered serious injuries after a car struck yours while your car was parked, contact a Santa Fe motor vehicle accident lawyer.
When a Car Crashes Into Your Vehicle When it is Parked
In May 2024, several police vehicles were stopped in the road to close several lanes of traffic on I-25 in Albuquerque while they responded to an accident. At least one of the parked vehicles was a public service aide truck. A Chevy Trailblazer did not reduce its speed as it approached, and it collided with the public service aide truck, causing the PSA truck to crash into the vehicle in front of it. Two of the people inside the PSA truck were uninjured, and they were able to get out of the truck easily. The third occupant of the PSA truck suffered a head injury, and furthermore, the door of the truck did not open easily; eventually, two police officers were able to help him get out of the car and receive medical attention.
The driver of the Trailblazer, Nathaniel Lucero, suffered an arm injury and also needed help getting out of his vehicle. Police noticed that he seemed to be under the influence of alcohol, and he admitted that he had consumed four alcoholic beverages that day. Lucero later pleaded guilty to DUI resulting in serious bodily injury. Even if he had not received criminal charges, the injured officer would have had the right to file a civil lawsuit against him. Most likely, the police department will compensate the injured officer for his injuries because the accident happened while he was working.
Contact Slate Stern About Car Accident Lawsuits
Slate Stern is a personal injury lawyer who represents plaintiffs injured as a result of car accidents. Contact Slate Stern in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or call (505)814-1517 to discuss your case.
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Photo by Max Fleischmann on Unsplash