Three Hospitalized in Police Chase Crash in Spokane

October 25, 2019

A car with police hot on its tail smashed into a moving car and then into several parked cars. In all, three people were sent to the hospital with significant injuries. Police say that They spotted the car going west on W. Maxwell Ave. and gave chase for 30 seconds when it hit a car in going through the intersection north on N. Maple St.

The car being chased then spun around and hit two parked cars before coming to a rest. Two people inside the car going north on Maple had to be extracted with the jaws of life, and three people were sent to the hospital. It’s unknown if the driver was one of those injured, but police have arrested him and charged him with eluding police and vehicular assault.

Police Chase Injuries

Police chases happen every day in cities across the country. Most end without violence, but sometimes an accident happens. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, over 300 people die each year in accidents involving a police chase.

Sometimes the victims are in the target car and are involved in the reason for the chase. But other times, the victims are innocent bystanders or occupants of a vehicle not involved in the chase. When this happens, the victims are often left having to bear the cost of the damages themselves.

Suing the Police

The doctrine of sovereign immunity protects governments against lawsuits by the people. In 1961, Washington state passed a law allowing tort claims against the government for negligence the same as an ordinary personal injury suit.

This is good news for those injured in a police chase, however, there are limitations and certain filing procedures and deadlines that must be followed. While it’s not required, anyone considering filing a suit against the government should talk to an attorney to find out their rights and how to proceed.

Sources of Compensation for Police Pursuit Injuries

Suing the police isn’t the only way that victims of police chase crashes can get compensation for their injuries. If the person fleeing the police has insurance, the victim might be able to get compensation from his or her insurance company.

However, there are circumstances where the insurance won’t pay even if their insured hits another person. One example is if the vehicle being chased is stolen, then even if the owner of the car and the alleged car thief has insurance, they won’t pay.

When this happens, the victim might be able to use their own insurance, if the have uninsured or underinsured on their policy. This will work even if the car was stolen or some other illegal activity was taking place. The reason is that these policy add-ons protect the insured against losses from any type of auto accident.

Contact a Spokane Accident Injury Attorney

If you’ve been injured in a police chase or by someone else’s negligence, you should at least talk to an attorney who can advise you of your rights and can inform you of the insurance coverage available to you. At  Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S., we offer a free consultation so you can make an informed decision.

We serve clients in Spokane, Washington, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and surrounding communities. They can go toe-to-toe with the insurance companies and their lawyers to get you fair compensation for your injuries. Call them at (509) 926-4900, or send them a message by clicking here.

Three Hospitalized in Police Chase Crash

A car with police hot on its tail smashed into a moving car and then into several parked cars. In all, three people were sent to the hospital with significant injuries. Police say that They spotted the car going west on W. Maxwell Ave. and gave chase for 30 seconds when it hit a car in going through the intersection north on N. Maple St.

The car being chased then spun around and hit two parked cars before coming to a rest. Two people inside the car going north on Maple had to be extracted with the jaws of life, and three people were sent to the hospital. It’s unknown if the driver was one of those injured, but police have arrested him and charged him with eluding police and vehicular assault.

Police Chase Injuries

Police chases happen every day in cities across the country. Most end without violence, but sometimes an accident happens. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, over 300 people die each year in accidents involving a police chase.

Sometimes the victims are in the target car and are involved in the reason for the chase. But other times, the victims are innocent bystanders or occupants of a vehicle not involved in the chase. When this happens, the victims are often left having to bear the cost of the damages themselves.

Suing the Police

The doctrine of sovereign immunity protects governments against lawsuits by the people. In 1961, Washington state passed a law allowing tort claims against the government for negligence the same as an ordinary personal injury suit effectively doing away with the doctrine.

This is good news for those injured in a police chase, however, there are limitations and certain filing procedures and deadlines that must be followed. While it’s not required, anyone considering filing a suit against the government should talk to an attorney to find out their rights and how to proceed.

Sources of Compensation for Police Pursuit Injuries

Suing the police isn’t the only way that victims of police chase crashes can get compensation for their injuries. If the person fleeing the police has insurance, the victim might be able to get compensation from his or her insurance company.

However, there are circumstances where the insurance won’t pay even if their insured hits another person. One example is if the vehicle being chased is stolen, then even if the owner of the car and the alleged car thief has insurance, they won’t pay.

When this happens, the victim might be able to use their own insurance, if they have uninsured or underinsured on their policy. This will work even if the car was stolen or some other illegal activity was taking place. The reason is that these policy add-ons protect the insured against losses from any type of auto accident.

Contact a Spokane Accident Injury Attorney

If you’ve been injured in a police chase or by someone else’s negligence, you should at least talk to an attorney who can advise you of your rights and can inform you of the insurance coverage available to you. At  Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S., we offer a free consultation so you can make an informed decision.

We serve clients in Spokane, Washington, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and surrounding communities. They can go toe-to-toe with the insurance companies and their lawyers to get you fair compensation for your injuries. Call them at (509) 926-4900, or send them a message by clicking here.

 

 

Related Articles

Get in Touch with Us
Discuss your case with an expert
*We will get in touch once we review your submission.