LEGAL STORIES AND INSIGHTS FROM BREWERWOOD.

Because of their relatively small size compared to a standard automobile, motorcycles can be particularly vulnerable to accidents. Sometimes, drivers do not double check the blind spot before changing lanes or are distracted by their phones or navigation systems. Accidents can also be caused by impaired drivers who are not capable of operating a vehicle safely.

A Chandler, Arizona, police officer was killed on Oct. 31 after he was hit by a suspected drunk driver. According to reports, the officer was on his motorcycle and had stopped at a red light around 12:30 a.m. when a 31-year-old male in a vehicle hit the motorcycle from behind. The driver reportedly attempted to leave the scene but was stopped and arrested close to the crash site. Officers also reportedly found an 11-month-old child in the car, but the child was not hurt.

The crash threw the officer down the street from the intersection, and he was declared dead at the hospital shortly after the wreck. The 37-year-old had been with the city’s DUI Traffic Unit for the past seven years. The accident was still under investigation at the time of reports, and officers had spent hours at the scene already collecting evidence.

According to police, the driver had prior drunk driving offenses and had not had a driver’s license since 2010 when it was suspended. He was charged with hit-and-run and manslaughter and may also be facing child endangerment charges.

In situations where a person is killed in a wreck that was another party’s fault, a wrongful death suit can help families pay for medical expenses and burial costs, compensate for a loss of income and find closure to a devastating and challenging time.