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You don’t have to look too hard to find a news story about a police chase that ended badly. Any car accident lawyer in Cincinnati can tell you it happens. When the cops are chasing after a felon, they will stop at almost nothing to catch them. Of course, there are rules about when a police officer must stop a high-speed chase. For example, if there is a high risk of injuring an innocent person, they’re supposed to call off the chase. This truth is that no matter how careful an officer may be, there is always the chance that an innocent person can get hurt. If this is what happened to you, it’s a good idea to contact a car accident lawyer in Cincinnati.
While your Ohio injury lawyer can never guarantee that you’ll receive damages, they will do their best to get you the compensation you deserve. This is a lot trickier to do when the person who crashed into your car is an officer of the law. In every state, including Ohio, police officers maintain a certain level of immunity when it comes to civil liability. In order to collect damages from the officer or the police department, your car accident lawyer in Cincinnati will have to prove that they acted wantonly or recklessly during the police chase. If you are able to prove this, then you may be entitled to certain damages.
Here, we will discuss exactly what you should do if you are injured during a high speed police chase in Ohio. In the meantime, if you have any questions about your potential lawsuit, you should contact our office. We can set up a time for you to meet with one of our Ohio injury lawyers so you can find out what your rights are and how best to proceed. Since we offer all new clients a free, initial consultation, this should not be difficult to do.
Normally, You Can Sue the Other Driver if They Were at Fault
Typically, if you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident, you can sue the other driver for damages in civil court. The first thing you would do is file a claim against their insurance carrier and hope that your claim is paid. If your claim is denied or is not paid in full, then your Ohio injury lawyer can always file a civil lawsuit against them. In your lawsuit, you would sue both the driver and their insurance carrier for damages.
It works differently when the person who hit your car happens to be a member of law enforcement. Police officers in Ohio, as with any other state, are entitled to a certain level of immunity when it comes to situations such as this. The legislature wants to make sure that members of law enforcement feel comfortable enough to do their job without the fear of getting sued in the process. This means that if a cop is engaged in a high-speed chase and you happen to get hurt, there is a good chance you won’t be able to recover damages.
Police Officers in Ohio Have Immunity from Civil Liability
Immunity from civil liability just means that you can’t collect damages against the cops or the police department if you get injured while they’re in the course of their normal duties. For example, if you’re in a grocery store and someone is attempting to rob the store, the police may come and attempt to restrain the would-be robber. If, in the process of doing so, you fall and get hurt, you will not be able to sue the police or the police department for damages.
The same principle applies to high-speed chases as well. If you’re driving on a road or major highway and you see the police engage in a high-speed chase, you need to do everything in your power to get out of their way. There are times however that it’s impossible to do this. For example, if you’re driving through an intersection and the cop speeds through a red light, there’s not much you can do to get out of the way. If you happen to get hit by either the police officer’s cruiser or the vehicle they’re chasing, there’s a good chance you’ll suffer serious injuries. The problem is that you may not be able to sue to get compensation for these injuries.
Your Car Accident Lawyer in Cincinnati Will Have to Prove the Officer Was Reckless
In order for your car accident lawyer in Cincinnati to collect damages on your behalf, you will need to prove that the police officer was acting recklessly. To do this, you’ll have to prove that the police officer was acting with a conscious disregard for public safety. Your Ohio injury lawyer will have to prove that they put you at risk as well as other citizens while they were engaging in their high-speed chase. Meeting this standard is very difficult to say the least.
When you decide to file a lawsuit against the officer or the police department they work for, you will be fighting an uphill battle. By the very nature of who the defendant is, the court will naturally be inclined to side with them. Even if the evidence against the officer is insurmountable, that doesn’t mean that you will win. Unless your car accident lawyer in Cincinnati can prove that the officer acted wantonly or recklessly, you will not be awarded damages.
What Options Do You Have?
If you feel like this is unfair, then you’re absolutely right. It makes sense that the police officer needs some leeway in order to do their job properly. However, if you feel that the police acted recklessly and had absolutely no regard for your safety you should be entitled to damages. Typically, what happens in these situations is your Ohio injury lawyer will negotiate a settlement with the police department or the city. It’s not always a matter of who’s right or wrong. Law enforcement does not want the public to think that they have no regard for the safety of its citizens. It would be in the best interests of everybody involved to negotiate a fair settlement out of court. This is why it’s a good idea to hire a car accident lawyer in Cincinnati. They will be able to negotiate with the police department on your behalf in an attempt to help you secure enough funds to cover your out-of-pocket expenses. Since we offer a free, initial consultation to all new clients, we suggest you contact our office right away.
