Police officers certainly have difficult and dangerous jobs. They go through extensive training to be able to handle the rigors of the job, including defensive driving and conflict management training. So when police officers are hurt in car accidents, it is a testament to how they put their lives on the line in the name of public safety every day.
The story of a Chandler, Arizona police officer being killed in a motorcycle accident exemplifies these dangers. According to a recent azcentral.com report, the officer was reportedly stopped at a stoplight at the intersection of Chandler Boulevard and Pennington Drive when a driver rear-ended him and sent him and his motorcycle through the intersection. The motorcycle and the officer reportedly crashed into a bus stop. The officer was pronounced dead an hour later at the hospital.
Police later arrested a 31-year-old man who was driving the vehicle that hit the officer. He is being held on suspicion of manslaughter and hit-and-run.
The accident was the second fatal crash this week involving a Chandler police officer. The other officer, also riding a motorcycle was reportedly struck by a driver who allegedly ran a red light. With both cases, it remains to be seen whether wrongful death actions will be initiated.
A wrongful death action is a lawsuit brought by the surviving members of the deceased to seek money damages from the person responsible for the person’s death. Essentially, family members may be entitled to receive compensation for lost future wages, loss of companionship and emotional distress.
If you have questions about wrongful death actions, an experienced personal injury attorney can help.