If you read the news in New York, you’ll be surprised to see just how many police chases take place every week. When the cops try to pull a suspect over, most people comply. When you see the red and blue lights in your rearview mirror, you pull over. You wouldn’t dare try to take off and outrun the police. There are apparently a lot of people who don’t think that way. When they see the police officer behind them, they do one of three things. They either take off as soon as the cop’s lights start flashing. Or they act like they’re going to stop and then take off once the officer gets out of their car. Their last option is to stop their car and then take off on foot.
If the suspect takes off on foot, you won’t have to worry about a police chase. But in the other two scenarios, the cops have to make a quick decision. They either chase the suspect and try to catch up to them or they decide that there’s too much of a risk to public safety and they just put a bulletin out for the other officers to keep an eye out for them. They realize that an innocent person could get hurt if the suspect crashes. They also understand that they will have to take certain risks if they choose to chase the suspect.
If you or your loved one have been hurt in a police chase, you should call a Buffalo car accident lawyer right away. They know what the special laws are regarding police and immunity when it comes to personal injury cases.
The Police Officers Will Have Immunity for Any Accidents Caused on Duty
The last thing you want to hear is that the police won’t be liable for your damages. Because police have to make on the spot decisions all the time, they enjoy a certain amount of immunity. We don’t want officers worried about being sued if they make a mistake on the job. They work hard to keep us safe. We have to trust that they do their best to keep the public out of harm’s way. If someone does get hurt during a police car chase, they will likely not have a claim against the officer or the city.
Your only other options include filing an insurance claim against your own policy or pursuing the suspect. Most everyone carries uninsured motorist’s coverage. This may be an option to get your damages covered. Your Buffalo accident attorney can help you file this if need be. Your other option is to file suit against the person the police were chasing. However, you need to keep in mind – the kind of person who flees the police is not the kind of person who has a ton of assets.
Pursuing the Fleeing Suspect May be a Futile Effort
It is safe to say that the kind of person who will run from the cops is not often the kind of person who carries auto insurance. They also aren’t the kind of person who has a lot of personal assets. These people are typically those with a criminal history. Or, they have no insurance in the first place and that’s why they take off. Maybe they have active warrants out or have guns or drugs in the car. That’s why pursuing the suspect for damages may be a waste of time. Your Buffalo car accident lawyer can check to see if they do have any assets before you make a final decision.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in New York
If you’re injured during a high-speed police chase, the law can be quite tricky. While it may not seem fair, the police are generally immune from liability in these sorts of cases. So is the city or municipality. Your Buffalo car accident attorney will help you file a claim under your uninsured motorist’s clause. You can also try to file suit against the suspect they were chasing at the time of your crash. Unfortunately, as discussed above, these types of cases are not often fruitful.
Call today and schedule your free initial consultation. You can sit down with one of our skilled car accident lawyers in Buffalo. They’ll let you know if you do have a claim for damages. They can also help you negotiate payment of your claim with the insurance company. The consultation is free and you don’t pay anything until your case settles.
