If you have been in an accident with a police car, you may have suffered a variety of damages. You will need to prove that you are not at fault. To successfully do this, you must show that the police officer who was driving the vehicle was negligent. There are four elements of negligence, and all four elements must be proven as applicable to your crash.
The first element is duty, so you must show that the officer owed you a duty or a responsibility to drive safely. That is a given. The second element is showing that duty was breached.
As an example, the officer was speeding and didn’t have the police car’s lights and sirens on, so you were not aware that the car was quickly approaching. The vehicle then ran through an intersection striking your vehicle.
The third element is showing that the breach of duty was the cause of the accident. Then the fourth element is showing that the damages suffered – the property damages, injuries, lost earnings, and so forth were all the direct result of the accident with the police car.
Evidence To Help With Your Claim For an Accident With a Police Car
You will need to have supporting evidence for your personal injury claim after you have been hit by a police car. You will need a copy of the accident report, statements from witnesses, photos of the accident scene and damages, written repair estimates, medical bills, medical records, documentation showing missed work and lost wages, and any other losses incurred that you are claiming. The police car may have caught the entire crash on a dash camera, which could be used as evidence in the personal injury claim.
You will need to itemize your damages, and then add them up for the total value of your claim. As an example, include your medical bills, your lost earnings, future medical expenses, future loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and any other damages in your demand letter. You should include supporting evidence and documentation so you can work to get settlement negotiations underway.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
If you have been hit by a police car, you may want to enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer who handles auto accident injury claims in your state. With the help of a lawyer, you are much more likely to recoup compensation for your damages. Personal injury lawyers take cases on a contingency basis, so you will not pay anything upfront and your attorney will not be compensated until you win your case.
There is a limited time to pursue a personal injury case, and if you wait too long you cannot pursue a claim against the police department. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form to get your free claim review today, so you can recoup compensation for your losses.
