Police officers accept a certain amount of risk as part of their job and some even expect to encounter danger and possibly even death as they perform their duties. It may not be as expected, however, for one of them to die in a car accident on the way home after surviving another shift. Unfortunately for the family of one Wisconsin police officer, he lost his life in an accident shortly after getting off work one morning.
A 16-year-old male driving a truck crossed the center line of Highway 36 in Wisconsin and hit the officer’s car almost head-on. The off duty officer was in his own vehicle and not in his police cruiser at the time of the crash. The officer was pronounced dead shortly after the crash. The young male received injuries including a broken foot for which he was treated and released.
The stretch of road was shut down for several hours as officers worked the scene. The investigation is still underway and the young male hasn’t been charged as of yet. While no formal charges have been filed, the family of the officer still may want to look into filing a civil suit. They will now be faced with final medical expenses as well as the loss of his income which could potentially devastate his family.
Any Wisconsin family that has been lost a loved one in a car accident could benefit from having an understanding of our state laws regarding wrongful death. Families are often left with medical bills, funeral expenses, and the loss of an income. Without the recovery of these funds, a family can face serious financial hardship. While it is difficult to think about recovering funds while mourning the loss of a loved one, it may be in the family’s best interest to be consider the possibility.
Source: Walworth County Today, “Twin Lakes officer killed in two-car crash in Lyons,” May 25, 2013
