Over the course of our lives, we spend a significant amount of time planning. Many of us plan our days out, we create a plan that will help us achieve our goals, and we make an attempt at creating a financial plan in an effort to maintain financial stability. What many individuals don’t do, however, is plan for untimely events such as car accidents.
While we know that there is always the chance that one could occur, we often don’t take into account what would happen if we were to actually engage in one.
Just recently, Atlanta Hawks pro basketball player, Chandler Parsons, was forced into a situation that may now require him to create a new plan—a plan that may not involve him playing basketball. Parsons was driving home from practice at about 2:00 p.m. on January 15, 2020, when he and another motorist engaged in a collision with a drunk driver [Source: Sports Illustrated]. According to the police report, the drunk driver had made a left turn into traffic which then prompted the collision.
When police arrived, they found that the intoxicated driver had been knocked unconscious as a result of the impact. Officers also recovered a 7-Up bottle containing alcohol inside of the driver’s vehicle. Sports Illustrated did not disclose the identity of the motorist but did mention that he was cited for failure to yield while turning left as well as charged with driving under the influence. The source says the driver later admitted to police that he had been drinking.
Neither Parsons nor the other driver was cited at the accident scene.
Parsons hires personal injury attorneys after suffering potentially career-ending injuries in the accident.
After the accident, Parsons decided to retain a team of personal injury attorneys after realizing the extent of his injuries. His lawyers are not only claiming that the injuries the NBA player suffered are life-altering, but that they could potentially end his career. Parsons suffered a traumatic brain injury, disc herniation, and a torn labrum, all of which could contribute to him having to end his career earlier than expected.
Although Parsons is currently in the middle of finishing up the four-year contract he signed with the Atlanta Hawks, the injuries he suffered may hinder him from returning to the court. In fact, Sports Illustrated stated that his season may even be over. Parsons was already dealing with injuries he had suffered prior to the wreck and those he recently sustained may only make it more difficult for him to play. The source says that it is now very important for Parsons to prove “that the blame falls exclusively on the drunk driver” as he could run into some issues with his contract if he can no longer participate in the sport.
While Sports Illustrated pointed out that Parsons was not cited at the accident scene, some of the blame could be thrown on him when he takes his case to court, although the source says that that’s unlikely. However, if Parsons’ attorneys want to win the personal injury case, they will be required to prove the driver who was allegedly drunk was negligent and that Parsons and the other motorist involved played no role in causing the crash to occur. Parsons is currently bound to the terms set forth in the uniform player contract which states that an NBA player must refrain from “activities [that] may impair or destroy his ability and skill as a basketball player.”
If Parsons cannot prove that the other driver was to blame, his contract and/or endorsement deals could be put in jeopardy.
Can a victim of a drunk driving accident in Iowa sue the impaired driver for damages?
You may be able to and an Iowa personal injury lawyer can help you.
When involved in an accident with a drunk driver in Iowa, it is important that you retain an Iowa personal injury lawyer who can help you decide how you can recover compensation for your losses. Drunk driving accidents, like all other types of collisions, can have a devastating impact on those involved, including a victim being unable to work or pursue their career. If a drunk driver hit you and you suffered serious or life-altering injuries, the Iowa personal injury attorneys at Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. are here to help you understand what your legal rights are.
Our lawyers have a great deal of experience with handling cases like yours and have helped victims in the past recover a substantial amount so that they are able to not only afford the medical expenses associated with their injuries, but also recover damages to make up for their pain and suffering. If you would like to receive a case evaluation and find out what you might be entitled to collect, contact our Iowa personal injury law firm at (319) 393-1020.
You can reach Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. at:
1921 51st Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-1020
Fax: (319) 393-4000
Website: www.eellsandtronvold.com