NBA Atlanta Hawks forward, Chandler Parsons, was the second-round pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2011 NBA draft. The 31-year-old has recently suffered potentially career ending injuries in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Parsons was driving home from practice at around 2 p.m. on January 15th when he was involved in a three-car collision at a busy intersection. According to the Hawks, Parsons had been placed in the NBA’s protocol after suffering a concussion and whiplash in the crash. His attorneys stated that his injuries include “a traumatic brain injury, disc herniatio and a torn labrum.” Due to his injuries, Parsons was unable to travel with the team to San Antonio for their game against the San Antonio Spurs. 

Morgan & Morgan, one of the nation’s largest personal injury firms, released all the information about the accident in a press release. The at-fault driver made a left turn into traffic, which precipitated the crash. Police found the drunk driver knocked unconscious from the crash. Inside his car, police discovered a 7-Up bottle containing alcohol while “the heavy odor of alcohol reeked throughout the vehicle”. The motorist at fault apparently “admitted drinking, had alcohol in the car with him [and] passed out … causing a three-car crash … in a busy intersection,” according to the law firm. Parson and the driver of the third car were not cited by police. According to the report, Parsons declined to be taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment.

The male drunk driver, whose name has not been released, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and cited for failure to yield while turning left. Alcohol was found in his car and he apparently admitted to drinking. John Morgan and Nick Panagakis, Parsons’s attorneys, said the crash never should have occurred. “Chandler was in peak physical condition at the time of the wreck,” the attorneys said. “He is now working with a team of doctors to regain his health, and at this time, his ability to return to play is unclear. Our focus right now is on helping him make a full recovery, while we also work to hold any and all responsible parties fully accountable. Chandler is having a difficult time accepting the consequences of the defendant’s reckless conduct on the roadway,” the attorneys said. Parsons is known for his bad luck with injuries due to his professional career in Basketball. Hopefully in the near future, he is able to come back strong and bring success to Hawks’ program.