Police Chase

Representing Innocent Victims Injured in Police Chase Accidents

A high-speed police chase may seem like something that only happens in movies, in high-profile criminal cases, or in Los Angeles. But every year, around 360 people are killed in high-speed police chases across the country. That equates to about one person every day. Many more are seriously injured.

While some of these high-speed chases involve violent criminals who are extremely dangerous, more than nine out of ten of them are in pursuit of non-violent individuals who have only committed minor crimes. In any event, high-speed police chases often end up hurting innocent bystanders who had nothing to do with the crime or the chase.

While police in Arizona are trained to perform these intense high-speed situations, things can still go wrong. Almost 90 innocent people are killed every year in police pursuits. There has to be a better way to apprehend suspects. As civilians, we’re unprepared for these sudden police actions.

When a regular citizen is hurt during a police chase, we at The Husband & Wife Law Team don’t believe you should be the one left to pay your own medical bills. Call our car accident lawyers for a FREE consultation, and we'll discuss your legal options on how to obtain the best results possible.

What Injuries My Be Caused by High-Speed Chases?

Three out of four people are unable to identify which direction a speeding police car is coming from when they hear a siren. This creates an unacceptable risk for pedestrians and other innocent bystanders.

High-speed police pursuits often result in some of the worst kinds of long-term injuries. Victims are almost always on foot, and these cars are often traveling at very high speeds. Injuries that victims may suffer include:

• Severe burns that may be extensive

• Amputations of one or more limbs

• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries

• Paralysis from spinal cord damage

• Wrongful death

If you are injured in a Phoenix high-speed chase, you may require expensive medical treatment for months or years to come. But there is some good news: injured individuals may be awarded compensation to cover the cost of their injuries.

Suspect Liability in High-Speed Chases

When the fleeing suspect directly causes the accident, they may be held liable for your injuries. Phoenix personal injury claims can be filed against private citizens when they have been negligent or not acted with proper care, and that negligence injures someone else in the process. But your chances of getting compensation this way are slim. There’s no guarantee the person being chased has the proper insurance to cover your damages.

Another option is filing a claim with your own insurance company. It will take legal skill to get a high-speed chase covered by your insurer, but The Husband & Wife Law Team knows how to find coverage in existing policies in all sorts of situations.

Police Liability in High-Speed Chases

Filing a personal injury claim against the police is a complicated matter, but it can be done. As a government entity, the police are given certain immunities and special deadlines when people want to file a claim against them.

Police officers are afforded a lot of freedom in the line of duty, particularly when they are trying to stop someone from committing a crime or arresting a suspect. They are allowed to travel at high speeds, run red lights, and violate traffic laws if it helps them do their job. But the police also have a responsibility to keep civilians safe, particularly while on the job. When they fail to do so and someone is hurt by their actions, police officers may be held liable.

More than one out of four people killed in high-speed chases is an innocent civilian. But in the overwhelming majority of cases, these suspects are not engaging in a violent act when encountered by police. In fact, four times out of ten, a high-speed chase is the result of a simple traffic stop.

The potential for fatal accidents that may take the life of an innocent citizen is way too high to engage in a hazardous police pursuit in these circumstances. If police departments have policies that encourage officers to conduct high-risk actions that endanger the lives of private citizens, these practices can be challenged in court.

Finding the Right Legal Team

Because of the complex legal issues involved, filing a personal injury claim that involves a high-speed chase – especially when that claim is being made against the police – can be extremely difficult. These are not cases that you should take on by yourself. You need a strong legal team with decades of experience by your side.

If you were injured during a high-speed police pursuit, contact The Husband & Wife Law Team, today by calling today. We know how severe these injuries can be, and we believe injured individuals should focus on their recovery, not the legwork of filing a personal injury claim. We know what we’re doing and we’re on your side.