A fifth-grade teacher from Lake Geneva is left to deal with serious injuries after being involved in a car accident in early January. According to police, a 29-year-old man, who is apparently an illegal immigrant, faces charges after he ran a stop sign and hit the woman’s car.
Police reported the man was driving at a speed of 40 mph to 50 mph in a 25-mph zone. The woman had stopped at the four-way stop sign and was hit as she pulled out into the intersection. The Lake Geneva man was charged with operating without a valid license, reckless driving causing great bodily harm, and with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. If he is convicted, he faces up to four years and eight months in prison and a $21,000 fine.
As authorities proceed with the case in criminal court, the family of the injured woman may choose to seek personal injury compensation in civil court. According to the criminal complaint, the woman’s husband said she will be hospitalized for about two months and will require numerous surgeries in order to fully recover. Due to the accident, she suffered from a fractured hip, bruised intestines and fractured pelvis. According to police, she had to be extricated from her vehicle using the Jaws of Life.
Personal injury compensation can alleviate the ongoing medical expenses that will likely come with the woman’s long recovery. The pressure of these expenses, on top of possible lost wages from the woman’s job, can have a detrimental effect on a family’s ability to stay afloat financially.
Source: Walworth County Today, “Driver in court Friday, charged in accident that injured Lake Geneva teacher,” Jan. 25, 2012
