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Man Seriously Injured In Bakersfield Police Car Accident While Crossing Center Median Along Union Avenue
BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (June 26, 2023) – A male pedestrian was critically injured in a Bakersfield car accident with a patrol vehicle while crossing Union Avenue.
Kern County officials are saying that the accident took place around 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday. A man was crossing the center median of Union Avenue outside of a crosswalk when he was hit by a Bakersfield patrol vehicle.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. He was transported to the hospital with major injuries.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Bakersfield Patrol Vehicle Accidents
Far too many people are killed or seriously injured every year in accidents with emergency vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, there were 198 deaths involving collisions with emergency vehicles. Most of these deaths were occupants of non-emergency vehicles. Police vehicles accounted for 135 of the 198 deaths. There are a number of reasons that police vehicles can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians.
- Police officers are often distracted by dispatch or their on-board computers.
- Police officers must regularly respond to emergencies which require them to speed.
- Police officers must work at all times of the night and day when pedestrians may be less visible.
Determining liability for any police vehicle accident can be complicated. For the most part, police departments across California have a great deal of immunity from civil lawsuits when their officers are involved in car accidents. See, for example, California Vehicle Code 21055. Under the statute, immunity will typically apply when a police officer (or other authorized emergency vehicle) is responding to an actual emergency with their lights and sirens on. If a police officer is responding to an emergency and fails to turn their lights and sirens on before hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
When a police officer is not responding to an emergency, they must obey all of the rules of the road like any other driver. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21950, the driver of any vehicle approaching a pedestrian in the roadway must reduce their speed and take any other action necessary to safeguard the well-being of the pedestrian. When a police officer is negligent and injures a pedestrian, the police department that they work for could be vicariously liable for the collision. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any accident with a police officer.
- Dashcam footage from the officer involved should be reviewed.
- Photos of the accident should be taken.
- Any person that is injured should seek medical treatment.
- An experienced catastrophic injury attorney should be consulted.
Many victims of car accidents may not realize the full extent of their injuries for some time after any collision. Accident victims may need to take significant periods of time off of work. It is also common for them to be left with high medical bills. Any person that is injured due to the negligent actions of a police officer may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A catastrophic injury attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Kern County Patrol Vehicle Accidents
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to the man injured in this Bakersfield police vehicle accident. It is our sincere hope that he is able to make a full recovery. There are so many questions that need to be answered. Was the officer involved in this crash distracted? Were they paying attention to the road? Were they speeding?
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a car accident with a police officer? You may have legal recourse. Our team of highly experienced catastrophic injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
