Linda Comstock, 57, who was seriously injured in a San Diego car accident on September 22, 2010, is now questioning the police officers' decision to engage in pursuit. KGTV San Diego reports that a head-on collision involving Comstock's Jeep took place during a high-speed police chase on Carlsbad Village Drive near the Interstate 5, in Carlsbad. Police were pursuing three teens in a Honda Accord when the teenagers exited Interstate 5 and crashed into the Jeep. Comstock sustained serious injuries including a broken leg, shattered sternum, broken arm, fractured ankle and dislocated shoulder. She is still in the hospital, recovering.
My thoughts and prayers are with Linda Comstock following this serious San Diego County car accident. I wish her a complete and speedy recover from her seriouspersonal injuries.
Laws involving Police Pursuits
California law provides immunity to police departments that have adopted a "vehicle pursuit policy." California Vehicle Code Section 17004 states: "A public agency employing peace officers that adopts and promulgates a written policy on, and provides regular and periodic training on an annual basis for, vehicular pursuits … is immune from liability for civil damages for personal injury to or death of any person or damage to property resulting from the collision of a vehicle being operated by an actual or suspected violator of the law who is being, has been, or believes he or she is being or has been, pursued in a motor vehicle by a peace officer employed by the public entity."
Liability Issues
Victims in car accidents involving police pursuits would be well advised to contact an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer. A skilled lawyer will stay abreast of the investigation and ensure that the victim’s legal rights are protected. If the officer is determined to have been at-fault, then the victims could file a claim against the police agency involved in the pursuit.
Injured victims in such cases could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and other related damages. While it is important for police officers to do their jobs and get criminals off the street, it is also important that they find a balance between making a traffic stop or an arrest and putting the lives of innocent bystanders in serious jeopardy.
Seriously injured in a San Diego County car accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a Carlsbad car accident. Call 1-800-561-4887. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
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Do you think police officers in this case made the right decision by pursuing the teenagers?
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is 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 us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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