Off-Duty Police Officer Charged With DUI After Crash

The last thing anybody should have to worry about when they get behind the wheel is that a careless or negligent driver will cause them harm. However, we cannot control the actions of others around us on the roadway. Recently, an off-duty Philadelphia police officer was arrested in charge of DUI after a car accident. At the Dan Doyle Law Group, our Philadelphia DUI accident lawyers want to discuss this case as well as what you can do if you are struck and injured by a drunk driver.

What happened in this case?

The last thing people expect to see when they read about a DUI arrest is that the person being arrested was a police officer. Law enforcement officials, after all, should certainly know better than to drive while intoxicated. Police continuously see the dangers of drunk driving when they are at work.

Recently, however, an off-duty Philadelphia police officer was arrested and charged with DUI after a crash on Roosevelt Boulevard. Police responded to a report of an overturned vehicle in the northbound lanes of Roosevelt Boulevard at approximately 7 p.m. on February 16, 2020. Police say they found Philadelphia police officer John Sears inside of the overturned vehicle. They found a driver and a passenger inside of a second vehicle that had been struck in the incident.

Place administered a breathalyzer test to Sears at police headquarters and determined that he was over the legal limit in Pennsylvania. Sears is a 13-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department.

These incidents lead to major injuries

While there were no major injuries reported in the incident involving officer John Sears, that is not always the case for accidents involving drunk drivers. During the latest reporting year in Pennsylvania, the Department of Transportation says that there were 9,811 total crashes involving drunk drivers. Out of those incidents, there were 331 fatalities and 6,227 injuries. During that year, 28% of all traffic fatalities in Pennsylvania were the result of impaired driving.

Those who survive accidents involving drunk drivers often sustained serious injuries. It is not uncommon for our Philadelphia DUI accident lawyers to help clients have sustained the following:

  • Broken or dislocated bones
  • Severe lacerations or amputations
  • Internal organ damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries

Each of these injuries can lead to tremendous recovery times, significant disabilities, and costly medical bills for victims.

Let us get to work on your case

If you or somebody you care about has been injured due to the reckless or negligent actions of a drunk driver, legal assistance today. At the Dan Doyle Law Group, we are dedicated to helping victims secure the compensation they are entitled to. This can include:

  • All medical expenses related to the DUI crash
  • Lost wages and benefits if you cannot work
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of personal enjoyment damages
  • Possible punitive damages against the drunk driver or those who served them

If you need a Philadelphia DUI accident lawyer, you can contact us by clicking here or calling 215-987-3730 for a free consultation.