If you were injured in a car accident caused by a police chase, our car accident lawyers in Baltimore can describe the steps for filing a claim for financial recovery. A critical part of recovering damages from a police department or municipality is proving a constitutional violation—a potentially daunting task on your own. Our law firm and investigators can help you meet the necessary criteria.
Our car accident lawyers accept cases like yours at no cost to you. We can also help you file a claim against the pursued suspect’s auto insurance, if applicable.
Filing a Claim for a High-Speed Police Chase Crash
A high-speed police chase can cause a whirl of confusion for uninvolved drivers. If you were injured or your car was damaged, recovering compensation in its aftermath can be equally confusing. To file a claim for a police chase accident, you must determine your options for compensation. These depend on the specifics of your accident, but may include:
- Filing a Monell claim: If the police chase and your injuries resulted from an unconstitutional policy or custom in the police department, the municipality may be liable for your injuries.
- The suspect driver: If they caused your injuries or damaged or destroyed your car, they can be held liable, and you can pursue their insurance company for compensation.
- Your own insurance policy: If the car driven by the suspect in the police chase was stolen, you can pursue damage via the uninsured motorist portion of your own auto insurance. If you live in a no-fault state, you can also use your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage for some of your medical bills and lost wages.
The police are allowed to suspend the rules of the road in certain situations. Police officer causation can be hard to prove since police pursuit of a suspect is not an unlawful or negligent act in and of itself. You don’t want to handle this process alone. Our police chase accident lawyers can help.
The Importance of Proving Negligence When Pursuing the Suspect Driver
In a traditional car accident claim, the liable party is typically responsible when their negligence caused the crash. Negligence requires we establish the following elements:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
Gross negligence occurred when the suspect driver displayed a lack of care that demonstrated a wanton or reckless disregard for the consequences of their actions, including the lives and safety of others.
Your lawyer can help you understand these elements and demonstrate their role in causing your accident. They will collect evidence and build a strong case file while you focus on getting better.
For a free legal consultation, call,
(888) 585-2188
A Lawyer Can Prove Your Right to Damages After a High-Speed Police Chase
Personal injury cases rely on the collected evidence to tell the story of an accident. Your legal team will collect all the evidence you need to pursue the suspect driver or file a UM or PIP claim with your insurance company.
If a police chase causes an accident, your lawyer will determine which claim may apply in your case and then collect evidence to prove one or more of the following:
- The chase violated your constitutional right to life, liberty, and property.
- There is an unconstitutional pursuit policy in local law enforcement guidelines.
- The suspect driver was reckless or negligent.
All these factors can be difficult to prove on your own. Our firm can handle this entire process. We know what to look for and how to get it.
How Do You File a Claim With the Suspect Driver’s Insurance Company?
After the accident, you could attempt to file an insurance claim alone. The process—especially when a stolen car is involved—can be daunting. Your lawyer will handle it for you. They will prove negligence and do all of the following:
- Obtain, complete, and submit claim forms
- Clarify all notification and filing deadlines
- Prove the at-fault party’s negligence
- Speak with interested parties on your behalf
- Assess the monetary value of your claim
- Provide ongoing updates on your case
Your lawyer will also negotiate a settlement. They can protect you from a speedy settlement that will not adequately account for the accident’s financial impact. They will also protect you from bad-faith insurance tactics and other factors that might undervalue your compensation request.
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Compensation You Can Recover if Your Car Is Hit During a Police Pursuit
After being hit by a police car or pursued car, compensation can come from multiple areas. You could recover:
- Current and future medical bills
- Current and future lost wages
- Vehicle damage or destruction
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Impairment and disfigurement
You are entitled to damages for an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Our lawyer can also help you document the value of your damages and explore recovering fair compensation for you.
Financial Recovery for Surviving Families After a Deadly Police Chase
You can seek compensation for a fatal police chase accident if a police chase violated your loved one’s rights and led to their passing. According to Md. Code, Cts & Jud. Proc. § 3-904, the parents, spouse, and children of the person who passed away can request wrongful death compensation.
It could include funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, and loss of household contributions. You can also recover compensation for loss of consortium, guidance, and companionship.
Your family does not have to pursue compensation alone. We will represent your family on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you will only compensate our law firm after we recover compensation for you.
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Get Help With Your Police Chase Accident Claim
If you or someone you love was injured during a police chase, we can help you get financial compensation. Our car accident lawyers will deal with all the legal aspects of proving negligence caused your accident and fighting for financial recovery.
Learn more about your right to compensation with a free review of your police chase accident claim. Contact our evaluation team at Jenner Law to get started today.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form