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Accidents with Police Cars in New York – Know Your Rights
Sometimes police officers operate their vehicles in a manner that causes a police car accident with an innocent bystander or an innocent driver. When police are in pursuit of a suspect, they still are required to exercise reasonable caution in their driving.
If a police officer is not in pursuit of a suspect, they are required to follow the rules of the road and drive with the same caution as any other motorist. If you were injured in accidents with police cars, you may want to seek compensation through filing a personal injury claim.
However, when a civilian files a claim against a city, town, or the state of New York, there are specific time periods limiting when the plaintiff can bring a claim. An experienced personal injury lawyer will understand these regulations and help you file your lawsuit for accidents with police cars in time.
Negligence in Police Accidents in New York with Innocent Civilians
When police are in pursuit of a suspect, they are granted the authority to drive at a faster rate than civilians and to disobey traffic signals when it is necessary. However, they do not have the authority to unnecessarily endanger the lives of civilians by operating their police car negligently or by engaging in a high speed chase over a minor crime.
Civilians, to do their part, are required by law to be on the alert for emergency sirens and lights, and to pull their car to the side to allow the police vehicle to pass. If you were operating your car responsibly and responded to the police signal, but you were still injured because of negligent driving by the police, then you may be able to file a claim for your personal injuries sustained in accidents with police cars.
If the officer is operating their vehicle in the normal course of police business and is not engaged in pursuit of a suspect, they are required to follow all applicable traffic laws and operate their vehicles in a manner that does not unreasonably endanger the health and safety of other motorists.
If you were rear ended by a police car, t-boned by a police car, or involved in some other car crash with a police car, you still have the right to file a personal injury claim for accidents with police cars.
Traumatic Injuries from Accidents with Police Cars in New York
Injuries from police car accidents range in their severity depending on the nature of the accident. If the accident was a low-speed accident, the victim may sustain injuries such as soft tissue neck and back injuries, contusions, or broken bones. If the victim was hurt in a high-speed crash with a police vehicle, there is a higher risk of severe traumatic injuries and fatal injuries, including head and brain injuries, lacerations, internal injuries, and traumatic amputation. Any injury that is the result of another person’s negligence, even if that person is an officer of the law, allows the victim to seek compensation for their pain and suffering.
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Attorneys Who Handle Police Car Accident Claim Lawsuits
If you have been involved in accidents with police cars, you need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after the incident. You may have a short window of time after the accident in which you are allowed to file a claim against a city employee, town employee, or state employee in New York. The personal injury lawyers at Duffy & Duffy will help to make sure your claim is filed by the deadline.
