On Wednesday evening, August 30, 2017, a terrible accident occurred at the intersection of Mullan and Sinto in Spokane Valley.
According to KHQ, a 2002 Subaru Forester being chased by police failed to stop at a stop sign, driving into an intersection and was hit by a truck. The Subaru then crashed into an SUV. In total, 5 people were injured with 3 being sent to the hospital. Thankfully, there were no fatalities in this crash. After the accident, the driver being chased was charged with driving under the influence, felony eluding, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangerment.
Who is liable for the injuries?
While it is impossible to tell based solely on news reports who is responsible for the injuries or may have contributed to them, we are occasionally asked about police pursuits. Police departments all over the country have different pursuit policies. There are time when a police pursuit is justified, and of course there are pursuits which should have never taken place which result in life altering injuries.
In Spokane, for example, the Police Department’s 2013 police pursuit policy states that “…pursuits are prohibited when initiated solely for traffic infractions and property crimes (whether felony or misdemeanor), or based on the mere fact that the vehicle is fleeing. The decision to initiate a pursuit must be based on the officer’s conclusion that the immediate danger to the public and to the officer(s) created by the pursuit is less than the immediate or potential danger to the public/officer(s) should the suspect remain at large. Information not available to the officer at the time the pursuit was initiated will not be considered later in determining whether the pursuit was justified. In all instances involving vehicle pursuits, the initiating officer must be able to clearly articulate the reason(s) why the pursuit was initiated.”
Do I need a lawyer if I’m involved in a car wreck?
After any accident involving a serious injury or a death it is important to speak to a great, local Spokane personal injury lawyer. If needed and retained, our experienced accident lawyers will work to protect your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve by determining who is responsible for your losses and holding each and every party accountable.
Our attorneys aggressively pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.
