What type of injury have you suffered?
Car Accident
- Car Accident
- Head Injury
- Premises Liability
- Products Liability
- Truck Accident
- Wrongful Death
Car Accident
HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL
(877) 880-4090At times, law enforcement officers pursue drivers they believe to be breaking the law. The sad reality is that, when officers engage in high-speed pursuits, innocent drivers and pedestrians may pay the price. Every year, innocent bystanders are injured or killed in police chases.
While law enforcement officers are trained to handle these types of driving situations, the general public is not. The police must weigh apprehending a suspect against the cost of possibly harming a civilian when they decide to pursue a suspected criminal.
If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a police chase accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. The personal injury lawyers of Fielding Law can evaluate your case and inform you of your legal options. Schedule your free case review today.
Contact a member of our legal team by calling(877) 880-4090. Someone is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to take your call.
Police officers must perform a careful balancing act. On the one hand, it is their duty to protect the people under their jurisdiction. This may necessitate engaging in a high-speed police chase to apprehend a dangerous criminal.
On the other hand, a high-speed police chase may occur in a residential area, on a busy highway, through a parking lot, or in other locations that endanger the public.
The following are some of the reasons why high-speed chases are so dangerous to bystanders:
When innocent bystanders are injured or killed during police pursuit, someone needs to be held liable. A police chase accident may leave victims suffering physically and emotionally. Both victims and their families deserve to be compensated for their losses.
If you were a driver, pedestrian, or another party injured in a police chase car accident, you might expect compensation for your injuries to be straightforward. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. For this reason, it is important to have a police chase accident lawyer on your side representing you.
One of the first steps your Fielding Law attorney will take is to work to establish liability. Various parties, both directly and indirectly involved in the police chase, could be held responsible for damages.
Suspects may be trying to evade law enforcement officers. Their main focus is to avoid getting caught – protecting pedestrians, other drivers, bicyclists, and others around them is not likely to be their top priority. While fleeing from the police, a suspect may take risks and drive recklessly.
A suspect may be held liable for damages for causing injuries due to:
Even if a police officer was directly responsible for your injuries, it still may be difficult to hold that individual liable for the accident if the chase was considered warranted and part of his or her duties. However, if the police officers engaged in a high-speed chase that should have been called off for being unwarranted or due to safety risks or violation of police department policy, they might be liable for any injuries that occurred.
Law enforcement guidelines regarding high-speed chases vary somewhat from state to state. If a police department has set policies that put innocent civilians at risk, they could also share liability.
While it is challenging to win a lawsuit against law enforcement, it’s possible with the right personal injury attorney representing you. Contact Fielding Law to schedule a free case evaluation.
In some rare situations, a government agency may be accountable for damages incurred in a police pursuit accident. There are agencies responsible for police training, driving instruction, adherence to safety protocols, and other aspects of law enforcement. If one or more of these parties are found negligent, a claim or lawsuit could be filed against them.
Law enforcement officers are allowed a range of authority to carry out their duties and protect the public. At the same time, they are expected to do this within the boundaries and rules outlined by their specific departments, which also clarify when it is reasonable to initiate and terminate a high-speed chase.
Before and/or during a high-speed chase, a police officer needs to consider factors such as:
If a chase was initiated due to a traffic violation or some other low-level offense, then there is a greater chance that the officer could be held liable for an accident and resulting injuries. However, if the officers engaged in a chase to apprehend an armed robber or someone else who posed a safety risk to the community, then their actions may be considered justifiable.
Victims of police chase accidents may suffer debilitating, life-altering injuries. Pedestrians or bicyclists tend to suffer the most harm since they don’t have the steel protection that a car provides.
A car accident lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation for many different types of injuries including:
Due to the legal elements involved, making a success of personal injury claims or wrongful death lawsuits involving high-speed police chases can be difficult. This is especially true if you are bringing a lawsuit against the police themselves. It’s not something that you will want to take on by yourself. You will need a skilled team of lawyers by your side representing you.
The personal injury lawyers at Fielding Law know what is needed to build a solid case for our clients who have been injured in police chases.
On your behalf, we can collect important evidence such as:
As your legal representatives, we can handle all communication and negotiations with the police department, their lawyers, and the insurance companies involved. Fielding Law’s attorneys are not easily intimidated; we won’t back down or accept a settlement that is not in our client’s best interests.
While recovering compensation after a police chase accident is complicated, it is not impossible. Especially with the right team of personal injury attorneys representing you.
With Fielding Law’s help, you may be eligible to be compensated for your:
If you have suffered the catastrophic loss of a loved one in a police chase car accident, you may be entitled to receive wrongful death damages. This could include compensation for funeral costs, burial expenses, loss of support, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and more.
While no amount of money can compensate for the loss of someone you love, compensation can provide your family with some financial security as you try to move forward with your lives.
If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in a police pursuit, the lawyers at Fielding Law are here to help. It’s not true that those involved can’t be held liable since the damages occurred during a police chase. Police officers need to consider the various factors and risks involved before deciding whether or not to engage in a high-speed chase.
You should not have to pay the financial price for a car accident that was not your fault. Your lawyers can collect evidence, determine liability, prove negligence, and demand compensation for your losses. And when you work with Fielding Law, we will also offer you the support and legal guidance you need, so that you can focus on your recovery. We do not collect any fees unless you are awarded a settlement. Call us 24/7 at 877-880-4090, start a live chat with us, or fill out the online form to schedule an appointment at a time and location convenient for you.