Massachusetts woman hit by a car while on sidewalk

There are some hidden dangers in almost everything people do. However, most people feel relatively safe when walking on Massachusetts sidewalks. Unfortunately, even sidewalks offer little safety when there are drivers under the influence of alcohol on the roadways. Police say that one woman was hit by a car while she was on a sidewalk. The driver of the car is suspected of drunk driving.

The incident occurred in mid-March. Police report that a witness called 911, reporting a van that was being driven erratically. According to her call, the van nearly hit several oncoming vehicles. Before police could locate the vehicle, the witness reported that the driver ran a red light and drove on the sidewalk. At that time, the van is said to have struck a pedestrian, a 62-year-old woman, and a tree.

The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries to her legs. Police claim that when they asked the driver for identification, she instead attempted to drink from alcohol container she had in her purse. Reports indicate that there were also two small children in the van, but they were uninjured. She is currently being held, charged with drunk driving.

One person’s choices can, unfortunately, have a severe consequences on the life of another. The woman hit by a car could face a long period of recovery, involving expensive medical treatment and missed work. To help cope with these costs, she has the option of filing a personal injury claim in a Massachusetts civil court. While unnecessary, a conviction of the criminal charges filed against the driver could help support a claim of negligence and potentially lead to an award of damages.

Source: whdh.com, “Police: Driver in Winthrop crash had open containers in car”, Nicole Oliverio, March 19, 2015