California residents may have read media reports in December 2015 about an automobile accident in New Hampshire involving Secret Service agents assigned to protect Hillary Clinton as she campaigned in the state. Authorities in the Granite State are still awaiting the results of toxicology tests that will reveal if the wrong-way driver that caused the crash was impaired at the time, but details have emerged about the nature of the injuries suffered by one of the agents.
According to media reports, the agent suffered a serious spinal cord injury that has left him with no movement or feeling below his chest. The nature of the injuries suffered by the other agents involved have not been disclosed, but they were described at the time as serious. The 45-year-old man who caused the accident was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. His two passengers were also hurt in the crash.
The car accident occurred on Dec. 29 on Route 16. The four agents were traveling southbound when a northbound car crossed into the path of oncoming traffic and struck their vehicle head-on. Police say that the wrong-way driver may have been attempting to pass another vehicle immediately before the collision. It was subsequently revealed that the man was driving without a valid license and has a history of drug problems.
Head-on collisions frequently result in catastrophic injuries, and the drivers responsible often lose their lives. In these situations, an attorney may assist an accident victim in seeking compensation from the estate or insurance company of the at-fault motorist through a personal injury lawsuit. Brain and spinal cord injuries are often life-changing events, and the damages sought can include the costs of long-term medical treatment and physical therapy as well as lost wages.
Source: WCBV Boston, Secret Service agent suffers major spinal injury in Wakefield crash, K.C. Downey, Jan. 6, 2016