Firefighter injured helping motorist in Pennsylvania

On behalf of Law Offices of Anthony Urban, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, December 17, 2014.

An off-duty Delaware firefighter was seriously hurt while trying to assist a stranded motorist on Interstate 95 just south of Philadelphia on Dec. 7. The accident happened at approximately 5 a.m. between Route 291 and Route 420.

According to authorities, the firefighter, a 31-year-old Wilmington man, was driving to work at the Wilmington Manor Fire Company in Newcastle when he saw a Toyota Scion strike a guardrail on southbound I-95 and come to rest in the middle of the highway. He reported the accident to police and got out of his vehicle to aid the Toyota's driver, a 26-year-old man. At that point, an SUV slammed into the Toyota and pushed the disabled car into him.

The firefighter, who is also a volunteer at Newport's Belvedere Fire Company, was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center where he had surgery and was later listed in serious condition. The other two drivers were uninjured. No charges have yet been filed, but police said the investigation is ongoing.

Someone who is seriously injured in a car accident may face months of recovery time before they are able to return to work. In cases where the accident was caused by a negligent driver, the injured party may wish to seek financial compensation by filing a civil lawsuit against the at-fault driver. A driver may be found civilly liable even if no charges were filed against them by authorities. With the aid of an attorney, an injured victim may be able to obtain a settlement to help cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.