For most people, their experience with police chases is limited to what they see on TV. However, many people are injured every year as a result of a police chase. According to Injury Prevention, a large number of the people that are injured are innocent bystanders. If you are injured in a police chase, you may be able to file a lawsuit against one of the drivers for the department to recover compensation.
The legal framework for this case can be complicated, which is why consulting a New York accidents caused by police chase lawyer is a positive first step in the process. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 to discuss your case with our team.
Types of Police Chase Accidents
Police chase accidents can happen in a variety of ways. It is possible that you can be a passenger in a car that is being chased. In other cases, you may be a bystander in another vehicle. This is how many of the serious injuries occurred during police chases. The driver of the vehicle being pursued usually loses control or makes a wrong move that results in a collision with another vehicle that is not involved in the chase.
One of the more common ways that these accidents happen is at crossroads and intersections. Since the chase does not stop for intersections, other drivers crossing the intersection can be hit by either the police car or the car that is being pursued. This usually results in a t-bone accident, which has a high chance of being fatal.
Injuries resulting from police chases tend to be severe. This is because the car that is being chased and the police car are moving at high speeds before the collision. Many of these collisions are fatal. Essentially, the vehicle that will be chased must have committed a felony or is driving recklessly and endangering the lives of other drivers. State laws across the country generally follow these rules or some close variation on them.
On a federal level, there are several major cases that changed the country’s outlook on chases. For the most part, they are considered an option of last resort that can only be used when there are no other options to stop a moving vehicle. Still, the number of accidents caused by police chases is a problem that is being addressed on a state and federal level to find ways of preventing accidents.
For a free legal consultation with a police chase accidents lawyer serving New York, call (844) 730-0233
Your Legal Rights
In normal accident cases, you would be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for the accident. However, in police chase accidents, this may not be the case according to the National Institute of Justice. This is because of the concept called sovereign immunity, which protects the government from being sued for liability. To determine the liability for your accident, you will have to look at state laws.
Sovereign immunity has been removed in many places, but state laws can restrict your ability to see the government in some areas as well. This means that you may not be able to sue the police for the accident depending on where you are. The best way to know what your legal options are is to consult a New York accidents caused by police chase lawyer that practices in that state. Call today for a free consultation.
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Common Expenses
Police chase accidents can result in a wide variety of expenses. Perhaps the most common expense is property damage. Property damage includes the cost of repairing or replacing anything damaged in the accident. Medical expenses are also common costs as injuries are common with this type of accident. In more extreme cases, final expenses like funeral costs and ongoing care for disabilities may be included. You can claim compensation in order to handle these costs since you are the victim of one of these accidents.
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Statute of Limitations
If you are able to file a lawsuit because of your crash injuries, there is a limited amount of time for you to do so. This is called the statute of limitations, and it varies based on which state year. In New York, the statute of limitations for personal injuries is three years. That means you have three years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit.
Compiling everything that is needed for this type of lawsuit can be time-consuming. It becomes more difficult the further away from the accident that you are. Make sure that your lawyer will be able to collect all of the information that is needed by starting the process as soon as possible.
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Settlement vs. Trial
If you file a lawsuit, waiting to go to trial can be stressful. However, it is important to remember that the majority of personal injury cases never make it to trial. Most are closed due to settlement agreements. It is likely that you will be offered a settlement agreement by the lawyer representing the at-fault driver.
Before you agree to the settlement, have a lawyer review it to make sure that it meets your needs. Most initial settlement offers do not take into account the long-term care needs and other factors when deciding on the amount of compensation. Make sure that the settlement offer aligns with your compensation needs, and have your lawyer renegotiate if needed.
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Recovering from an accident can be a stressful time, but you do not have to deal with the expenses. Since the accident was not your fault, you should be able to file a lawsuit to recover compensation. This can help you deal with a wide range of expenses and other issues that you were possibly unprepared for.
If you or a loved one is injured in an accident caused by a police chase, consult with a New York accidents caused by police chase lawyer to see what your legal options are. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 to discuss your case during a free consultation.
What to Do After an Accident
Some things to do after an accident include:
- Getting medical attention
- Filing a police report
- Obtaining contact information from all involved parties
- Writing down everything that you can remember about the accident
- Retaining a lawyer from our firm
In more extreme cases, final expenses like funeral costs and ongoing care for disabilities may be included. You can claim compensation in order to handle these costs since you are the victim of one of these accidents. We can explore your options via the insurance coverage that all involved parties have.
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