People should be held accountable for negligence, including those in law enforcement. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, to see how an El Paso accidents caused by police chase lawyer can help.
El Paso Accidents Caused by Police Chase Lawyer
As a U.S. city on the United States-Mexico border, El Paso, Texas, sees some of the strictest policing. According to El Paso Matters, the El Paso Police Department only recently made a formal policy to mitigate damage from police-caused accidents. Before the change to the police pursuit policy, high-speed vehicle pursuits in the city led to multiple fatalities.
If you or a loved one is recovering from injuries after a police-related accident that occurred in the El Paso area, you could seek legal representation to defend your rights. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (844) 730-0233 to learn more about how an El Paso accidents caused by police chase lawyer might be able to help you. You can schedule a free consultation with us and share the details of your situation.
About Police Pursuit Policies
While states have the power to enforce police training policies, there are no uniform guidelines on how police are trained across states and jurisdictions. This can affect police chase accident victims because of the uncertainty in what to expect from police conduct.
In the El Paso Matters article mentioned above, one Border Patrol agent interviewed said that police only receive limited training for dealing with police pursuits, with “no practical exercises.” That means all law enforcement officers trained in the 600-something academies across the country could have significantly different ideas about when police pursuit is appropriate.
In El Paso, Border Patrol agents are within their rights to engage in high-speed pursuits, even though data of one analysis of Border Patrol pursuits found that one in three ended in a crash between 2015 and 2018, according to a ProPublica report. El Paso law enforcement supports Border Patrol programs, which use some of the most extreme tactics to control the course of high-speed pursuits. Tactics can include, but are not limited to:
- Spike strips: These are hollow metal pins that pierce and deflate tires, causing them to disintegrate from the vehicle.
- Risky driving techniques: Reckless driving can quickly put uninvolved drivers in harm’s way, causing accidents and serious injuries.
- Car maneuvers: Police can use box maneuvers to surround vehicles, or Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuvers, to force a car to drive out of control.
In other areas of the country, police pursuit policies are in place to limit these practices. Pursuit policy generally protects the public from unnecessary harm. In El Paso, the ProPublica report says that between 2015 and 2018, “at least 250 people” suffered injuries, with 22 more killed from unnecessary law enforcement pursuits.
All of this means that civilians are at continued risk for long-lasting consequences involving police officers in El Paso. Victims can seek to hire a lawyer to hold law enforcement accountable for this type of harm.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, is ready to hear from you about your situation. If you are interested in exploring your legal options and learning more about how an El Paso accidents caused by police chase lawyer might be able to help, call us today to set up a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation with a accidents caused by police chase lawyer serving El Paso, call (844) 730-0233
Liability in an Accident Caused by Police
After an accident caused by police, it is easy to understand why victims would feel overwhelmed by the prospect of recovering financial awards in their case. Law enforcement officers are meant to be protectors and defenders of the law, but negligent behavior and decision-making can prove otherwise.
To determine who is liable for the damages, you may want to work with a lawyer to investigate your case. Law enforcement accountability can be difficult in a highly protected place like El Paso, but Texas law outlines the exact protocol for law enforcement officers.
A lawyer can work to represent your rights and interests in seeking a settlement for your recovery costs and other related expenses due to damages incurred from the accident.
Whether you were a bystander, driver, or otherwise uninvolved victim of the police chase accident, you might be able to file one of the following legal proceedings:
- Texas At-Fault Insurance Rules: One place to seek compensation after a car accident is through your insurance policy, but the logistics can be unclear for police chase accidents. Texas is an at-fault insurance state, which means accident victims can file a claim with the driver’s insurance policy who caused the accident.
- Criminal Restitution: In criminal cases, a judge can impose restitution charges as additional punishment for criminal behavior. However, restitution amounts are not guaranteed for any case and may not be enough to cover a person’s injuries or losses.
- Lawsuit Against Government Entity: If a law enforcement agency, like Border Patrol or El Paso police, exhibits negligent behavior, they could be deemed liable for your injuries. A lawyer can determine if law enforcement’s negligence broke police pursuit policies and hold them accountable for the damage done.
When you work with Ben Crump Law, PLLC, you will be informed about your legal options along the way. Legal representation cannot undo the damage done from your accident, but it can help facilitate your full recovery.
Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today to schedule a free case review with a team member. You can ask questions and learn how an El Paso accidents caused by police chase lawyer might be able to help you.
El Paso Accident Caused by Police Chase Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Legal Representation for Police Chase Accident Victims
Holding law enforcement accountable for their actions might seem impossible to the average civilian. Throughout legal proceedings, the guidance of a lawyer can help you manage a case seeking compensation for injuries and losses from an accident with police.
Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today to speak with a team member about your free case review at (844) 730-0233. The consultation is free, and if you choose to hire us, we work on contingency, which means you pay no upfront fees unless we win financial awards for you. Give us a call today.
Call or text (844) 730-0233 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
