Last month a state trooper was helping a tow truck operator with an abandoned vehicle on I-95 when he was hit by a drunk driver, pinned between two cars, and injured.
The drunk driver was an off duty 23 year old Philadelphia police officer named Matthew Sharkey who had been on the force for three years. Officer Sharkey was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and the state trooper whom he hit suffered significant knee injuries. The state trooper, tow truck driver, Officer Sharkey and his passengers are lucky that they all survived the accident without life threatening injuries. Many Pennsylvania drunk driving accidents do not end as well.
Pennsylvania Drunk Driving Statistics
In 2008, there were more than 12,700 drunk driving accidents and more than 530 drunk driving fatalities in Pennsylvania according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Alcohol was a factor in more than one third of Pennsylvania’s fatal accidents. While drunk driving is a concern in every demographic, Officer Sharkey falls into one of the worst offending groups – males between the ages of 21 and 25.
Drunk driving is a crime in Pennsylvania. It is illegal to drive in Pennsylvania with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than 0.08. Convicted drunk drivers face potential sentences of jail time (ranging from probation to 5 years), significant fines (from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars), and driver’s license suspension.
Contact a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer
Victims of drunk driving accidents, or their survivors, may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. In order to receive compensation it may be necessary to file a civil lawsuit in addition to any criminal charges brought by the state against the alleged drunk driver. An experienced Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer can help you assess your case and recover any damages to which you may be entitled by law.
For a free consultation with Pennsylvania car accident attorney Jon Ostroff please contact him via his online contact page or at 1-866-930-8484.
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