Anyone can make mistakes on the road and cause crashes, injuries and even fatalities. That’s one of the reasons why it is so important for drivers to be cautious of what they’re doing at all times.
This is particularly important for drivers who don’t necessarily need to follow all the same rules as others, like police officers. Take, for example, this case in which a Stonington police officer ran through a red light and hit a vehicle that was entering the intersection. This happened while the officer was attempting to catch up with a vehicle that was speeding.
While officers do have the right of way when their lights are on, they still owe a duty of care to those around them. In this case, it’s claimed that the officer did not radio his headquarters to let it know that he was trying to stop the car he was following. The other vehicle was traveling approximately 74 mph in a 50-mph zone. The officer saw this and made a U-turn to stop the vehicle. He did use his lights and siren.
One victim in the collision made a statement that they did not hear or see anything unusual before passing into the intersection where they were hit. One witness also said that he did see the officer and his vehicle with the lights on, but he didn’t hear a siren.
In this case, the victims said that they intend to file a claim, but they have not yet done so. The woman inside suffered broken ribs, facial bone fractures, a concussion and a cervical vertebra fracture. The male victim had a concussion.
If you find yourself in a situation that is similar to this, remember that you may also have a right to pursue a claim and hold an at-fault driver responsible, no matter who they are.