Last month, a 30-year-old New York woman was driving with her husband in her 2003 Hyundai on Route 9. At about 9:00 in the evening, a New York State Trooper lost control of his cruiser and collided with the woman’s Hyundai head on. According to State Police representatives, the trooper had swerved to avoid a vehicle that had pulled out onto Route 9.
Although the 30-year-old accident victim initially survived the car accident and was alert and awake, she suffered serious injuries including a fractured pelvis and a compound fracture or her left forearm. Sadly, while undergoing hip replacement surgery two days after the accident, she died during the operation.
According to an autopsy, she died of a pulmonary embolism when a blood clot moved into her lungs. Before undergoing the surgery, the woman and her husband, who was also injured in the accident, hired an attorney to help investigate the accident.
The State Police Troop G Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Investigations is investigating the accident as well. Authorities state that they have identified the driver who purportedly pulled out in front of the State Police cruiser. They state that they have interviewed the driver, but have not released his name.
In accidents like this one, there are complex legal issues regarding the potential liability of the state involved. Because of this, it is vitally important for accident victims to work with an attorney who can conduct an independent investigation into the accident. In February, a State Trooper ran a red light and crashed into a taxi in Albany. Although authorities initially believed otherwise, an investigation revealed that the trooper was at fault for running the red light in that accident, which left the cab driver seriously injured.
Source: Albany Times Union, “Woman dies after crash,” Dennis Yusko, Dayelin Roman, 6/29/2011
