When car chases leave you suffering damages, Hidalgo County, Texas car accident attorney Raúl Guajardo helps you get compensation.
Police car chases may be a highlight of action movies but in real life, they are generally discouraged. High-speed pursuits pose major hazards to other drivers on the road and can result in property damages and potentially serious personal injuries. If you are involved in this type of crash, contact the Law Office Of Raúl A. Guajardo, P.L.L.C. Our Hidalgo County car accident attorney explains how to get the compensation you are entitled to in a claim.
Police Car Chases Causes Personal Injuries, Property Damages
High-speed police pursuits do not just happen in the movies. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, law enforcement officials engage in close to 70,000 car chases each year. Unfortunately, these can have serious ramifications both for the driver being pursued, their passengers, and other motorists on the road. An average of one person each day is killed as a result of police chases while hundreds of other drivers are left suffering major damages.
What causes a driver to attempt to evade police or refuse to stop when they see flashing blue lights behind them.? Often, it is due to one of the following reasons:
- They are actively engaged in criminal activity and hoping to avoid arrest;
- They are under the influence of alcohol or other substances;
- They are driving without a license, insurance, or vehicle registration;
- They have outstanding warrants;
- They have concerns regarding immigration status.
Regardless of the reason, you have the right to hold the at-fault driver responsible. They can be held liable for your damages either through insurance or by filing a civil claim against them.
Can Police be Held Liable for Car Chase Damages?
The Texas Police Chiefs advise that state law enforcement policies directly address police car chases. In deciding whether to pursue a suspect, officers need to consider several factors:
- The seriousness of the charges;
- The potential harm they could cause;
- The odds of being able to apprehend them later without a pursuit;
- The dangers a car chase could pose to other motorists.
Police officers must file a written report after any car chase. If property damages or personal injuries occurred during the pursuit, a third party will be assigned to investigate it. This includes reviewing the dashcam video, talking to eyewitnesses, and obtaining other evidence. If the officers are determined to be at fault and directly responsible for damages suffered, either by the driver being pursued or other motorists involved, they can be held liable under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code (§ 101.021).
Contact Our Hidalgo County, TX Car Accident Attorney Today
At the Law Office of Raúl Guajardo, P.L.L.C., we investigate car chase crashes and determine who can be held liable for damages you suffer as a result. To get the compensation you need to recover, give us a call or contact our Hidalgo County car accident attorney online today.