LaPorte, Indiana - James Geise Charged with OWI After Critically Injuring Another Driver in Crash

Rachel Mathes and Anthony Herron Injured in Crash, James Geise Arrested on OWI Charges

Last Update: 7/13/2020

Lawyer Comments: In the second section of this story, attorney Jeff Gibson discusses a common question: I got hit by a drunk driver, what am I entitled to?

Two people were injured, one critically, in a crash involving a suspected drunk driver in LaPorte County on Thursday, May 28.

According to sheriff’s deputies, a passenger vehicle was stopped in the westbound lane of U.S. 20 waiting to turn left onto County Road 250 East at around 6 p.m. A pickup truck reportedly attempted to go around that vehicle and collided head-on with the car.

24-year-old Rachel Mathes suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a hospital. Her passenger, 22-year-old Anthony Heron, was evaluated at the scene by LaPorte County EMS after suffering an upper-body injury.

The pickup truck driver, 41-year-old James C. Geise, was brought to LaPorte County Jail on suspicion of operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, operating while intoxicated endangerment, and driving while suspended for a prior violation.

Financial Compensation For People Injured by Drunk Drivers in Indiana

Attorney contributor Jeff Gibson represents people who have been injured by drunk drivers and helps them recover the financial compensation they deserve. Jeff has some information to add on the financial options available to people injured in Indiana drunk driving crashes:

When a drunk driver injures other people in a crash, those injured should be aware of their legal rights. Injuries suffered in a drunk driving crash can have serious consequences, both financially and personally. Fortunately, people injured by drunk drivers can often recover financial compensation for these difficulties.

You can sue a drunk driver who injured you directly in a personal injury lawsuit, but this is not always the only type of financial compensation available. Indiana and any other states have dram shop laws, which allow alcohol vendors to be held liable for serving a drunk driver before a crash – depending on the circumstances.

According to Indiana dram shop law, an alcohol vendor can be sued if:

• the vendor provided alcohol to someone they knew was intoxicated at the time, and
• the intoxication was a foreseeable cause of injuries suffered.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver in Indiana, you can learn more about your legal rights in a free consultation with one of our experienced drunk driving injury lawyers.

Sources

https://max983.net/2020/05/plymouth-south-bend-residents-hurt-in-head-on-crash-in-laporte-county/