Our client, an officer with the Bloomington Police Department had pulled a vehicle over to the side of the road for a traffic violation.  His emergency lights were activated and his squad car was pulled in behind the traffic violator's vehicle. He was sitting in his squad car writing the traffic violator a ticket.  Suddenly and without warning, his squad car was rear-ended by a vehicle that was traveling approximately 40 mph.  The force of the impact caused the patrol car to collide into the rear of the stopped vehicle. Our client was thrown forward and then backward, he struck his head on the barrier inside his patrol car.  According the police report, the at-fault driver was driving inattentively and did not slow or stop for the police vehicle. 

Immediately following the collision, our client noted pain in his neck and back.  He was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Our client was only 30 years old at the time of this accident.  He had young children and was restricted when dealing with his family because of his mid-back pain.  Prior to the collision, our client was active in hockey, walking, hunting, and fishing.  Our client enjoys his career as a police officer and hopes to continue working on the police force.  He has concerns about how the injuries he sustained in this collision may affect his ability to perform the required duties of his job in the future.

Art Kosieradzki settled claims against both the liability carrier and our client's own underinsured motorist coverage for a total settlement of $350,000.