GoFundMe Created to Help Leylani Moniz After Brockton Collision Involving Massachusetts State Police Trooper
BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS (August 27, 2026) – A woman identified as Leylani Moniz was injured in a Brockton car accident by the Prestige gas station at 899 Belmont Street.
Brockton police officials are saying that the incident occurred around 10:50 p.m. on August 10. A Massachusetts state police trooper was heading down the roadway when they were involved in a collision with a vehicle transporting Leylani Moniz and her best friend.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help both of the victims. Leylani Moniz was airlifted to a hospital in Boston with major injuries. She has already undergone five surgeries.
Authorities have cited a Massachusetts state police trooper for speeding and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. A full investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing at this time.
You can help support Leylani Moniz through GoFundMe.
According to the online fundraiser, “On August 10, 2026, our lives changed forever. Earlier that evening, I had the blessing of hearing all of my children laughing together under one roof. A short time later, my oldest daughter, Leylani, and her best friend went to a nearby gas station because she thought she might be having an allergic reaction and wanted a Gatorade.”
Liability for Brockton Car Accident Involving Police Officers
Massachusetts drivers have a legal obligation to operate their vehicles at a reasonable speed at all times given the prevailing road conditions under Massachusetts General Laws c. 90, § 17. Even traveling the speed limit could be considered dangerous depending on traffic conditions. Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws c. 89, § 7B, police officers are allowed to speed and engage in other risky maneuvers during emergency calls. But if an officer is not responding to an emergency call with their lights and sirens on, they must obey traffic regulations as would any other driver. Several factors must be considered when evaluating legal responsibility for any collision involving law enforcement.
- Road Conditions: The speed of an officer involved in a crash and prevailing road conditions will help determine if they were operating with reasonable care.
- Emergency Response: The nature of a police officer’s trip is also important. Dispatch records can help reveal whether an officer was actually responding to an emergency.
- Video Footage: Police vehicles typically have dash cameras that face outward. The footage captured on these cameras can be instrumental in determining whether or not an officer acted negligently.
- Electronic Records: The officer’s personal cell phone and onboard computer records can help reveal whether they were distracted at the time of a crash.
A police department can be vicariously liable for the negligent actions of one of their officers who was working within the course and scope of their job duties. Consider, for example, Stuart v. Town of Brookline, 412 Mass. 251 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court 1992). A passenger was injured after a Brookline police officer pulled onto Route nine into the path of an approaching vehicle. Legal counsel for the plaintiff argued that the officer was negligent by not taking into consideration the speed of the approaching vehicle and poor visibility due to unsafe weather.
Steps to Take After Accidents Involving Police Officers
Accidents involving police officers and other emergency vehicles are unfortunately quite common. Speed tends to play a major role in these crashes. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2024, 225 people died in crashes involving emergency vehicles. More than half of these deaths were occupants of non-emergency vehicles (56%). Deaths among pedestrians accounted for 24% of the total, while emergency vehicle drivers represented 9%, and emergency vehicle passengers accounted for about 8% of the deaths.” Several steps should be taken after any accidents involving a police vehicle.
- All of the medical records related to the incident should be collected and preserved.
- Any surveillance footage that may have captured the collision should be reviewed.
- Police reports that may attribute liability to one driver should be carefully scrutinized.
- Victims should consider their legal options with experienced personal injury attorneys.
Serious collisions involving police officers can be absolutely devastating. Victims are often left with catastrophic injuries that significantly impair their ability to work or even lead ordinary lives. To make matters worse, police departments and their insurance providers are not likely to accept responsibility for these collisions. At a minimum, they will often claim that the victim was at least partially at fault. Any person injured due to the negligent actions of a police officer should carefully consider their legal options with a team experienced in personal injury law.
Getting Legal Help After Brockton Police Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our best wishes to Leylani Moniz and her family as she continues to recover. Any person who may have more information about what happened is encouraged to reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into all of these circumstances that may have contributed to this collision.
Have you or a loved one been injured due to the negligent actions of a police officer in Massachusetts? You may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Our team of experienced Boston personal injury attorneys is here to support you. We are committed to helping victims get all of the medical and financial assistance that they need to recover and get back to their lives. You are always welcome to contact us anytime at (617) 870-0907.