Los Angeles Car Accident Involving Police Vehicle Injures Three
Three people were injured in a Los Angeles car accident after a Torrance police car rear-ended a van. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the car crash occurred the morning of January 16, 2010 in the 1500 block of Torrance Boulevard. The patrol car was trying to catch a traffic violator when the rear-end collision occurred. Two of the van's occupants and a police officer were injured. The injuries are described as minor. The traffic violator whom police were pursuing apparently was not apprehended and the nature of the violation is not yet known. The Los Angeles Police Department is said to be investigating this incident.
I'm glad that none of the injuries in this incident were major or catastrophic. I wish all three of the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery. They will be in my prayers.
Car Accident Statistics
There were four fatalities and 499 injuries involving car accidents in Torrance in 2007, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County as a whole, 712 deaths and 56,475 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007.
Causes and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, there are several unanswered questions here. Did the police car have its lights and sirens on? How fast was the police car traveling at the time of the accident? What was the nature of the traffic violation that led to the police pursuit? If the police vehicle did not have its lights or sirens on the driver of the minivan who was hit had no warning that there was a police car behind them trying to catch a violator. Drivers in California are required to pull over to the side of the road to let emergency vehicles pass by. But without the lights and sirens turned on by the emergency vehicles, other motorists would not be aware of the situation or the need to move out of the way.
In such cases, if the officer operating the police car is found to have violated department policy or found to have been at-fault, injured victims can file a claim against the police department to seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages and other related damages. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in California must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. Victims would also be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.
We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.
