Police Officer Hit Driver at Intersection
A police officer driving in Atlanta hit another driver in a car accident on Saturday, July 30, according to NBC 11 Alive Atlanta. At the time of the accident, the police officer was driving south on Peachtree Road. At the intersection with Peachtree Battle Avenue, the officer struck another vehicle. The driver was attempting to turn left when the police officer continued driving straight and struck the other driver’s car.
The police officer had the green light to continue through the intersection. The police officer stated that the other driver began to make the left turn at the moment when the police officer was entering the intersection, and that the the police officer had no time to stop before their vehicles collided. The officer hit the car on the passenger side. Emergency first responders transported the police officer and the other driver to Grady Memorial Hospital. Officials have stated that their injuries should not be life-threatening. ABC 9 Atlanta reports that police have stated that the driver who made the left turn caused the car accident.
Cops Are Liable for Accidents When They Violate Procedure
In an accident involving a police officer’s vehicle, one question that arises is, could the police department or city be liable for damages in the accident? In Georgia, all drivers are responsible for taking reasonable care to avoid injuries to other drivers or pedestrians on the road. This includes following all of the rules of the road when driving. If a driver violates the rules of the road, and their violation leads to an accident, that driver can be liable in a lawsuit for the injuries that result from the accident.
In general, an employer can be liable for damages that an employee causes in an accident as long as the accident occurs while the employee is on-duty and carrying out their work responsibilities. However, police officers and city governments are usually immune from lawsuits as long as the accident occurs while the police officer is following standard police procedures. On the other hand, if the officer is violating standard police procedures, and this causes an accident, the police officer and the city government may be liable for injuries that result from the accident.
Atlanta Cops May Be Liable for Officer-Involved Accidents
In a case like the accident on Peachtree Road, it’s possible that the city of Atlanta could be liable for injuries to the other driver that resulted from the accident. It appears from police reports that the driver who turned left did so when he should have instead yielded to the oncoming police officer, who seems to have had the right of way, since the officer had a green light. If this is the case, then the driver turning left violated the rules of the road. However, if the police officer violated the rules of the road, they could be liable for negligence. Even if both parties broke the law, the police officer could be partly liable for the damages that resulted from the accident.
For example, if the police officer was speeding at the time of the accident, and the speeding prevented them from being able to brake in time to prevent the collision, the police officer could be partly liable for the accident. In many cases, the police officer would be immune from a negligence lawsuit, as long as they were on-duty and performing their job according to standard police procedures. However, if they were violating police procedures (for example, by speeding without illuminating their emergency vehicle lights), they may not be immune from liability.
Get Legal Help
If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, you need legal assistance. Get in contact with an auto accident attorney at Williams Elleby Howard & Easter in Cobb County today to get the compensation you deserve.
