June 26, 2015- Caroline, VA
A Virginia State Trooper is lucky to be alive after being struck by a pickup truck earlier today. At the time of the accident, the trooper was directing traffic in response to high water conditions on I-95 just north of Ladysmith in Caroline County.
NBC12 News reports that an out-of-control tractor-trailer struck both the pickup truck and the trooper’s vehicle, causing the pickup truck to collide with the trooper. The trooper was thrown over a guardrail into the grass median by strength of the impact and sustained serious injuries.
Thankfully, the trooper is currently receiving treatment at VCU Medical Center and is expected to recover. 67-year-old Nicholas J. Coia, the driver of the tractor-trailer faces reckless driving charges for his involvement in the collision.
In the line of duty, police officers are often called upon to perform dangerous tasks, including the direction of high-speed traffic at intersections, accident scenes, or even construction zones. Injures sustained by cops while directing traffic range from soft tissue injuries involving necks, backs, shoulders or knees, all the way up to serious injuries like scarring, fractures, internal bleeding, spinal injuries, crushed limbs, head injuries, and even permanent disability.
For Virginians who are injured on the job by a negligent third party, both workers’ compensation benefits and personal injury damages may be available. The experienced legal team at ReidGoodwin is prepared to help injury victims pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law. If you or a loved one is injured, and unsure what remedies to pursue, contact the attorneys at ReidGoodwin today to complete a legal evaluation.