A: When a bystander is injured as a result of a police chase accident, the laws of Pennsylvania allow that person to obtain financial compensation for the injuries and the financial losses caused by the accident and injuries. For instance, lost wages and medical bills are common kinds of financial losses.
The responsible parties often include both the eluding driver and the local police department. However, in order to proceed in a case against a police department for a police chase accident which occurred in Pennsylvania, the injured person must first serve notice on the correct government agency, putting the agency on notice of the potential claim. That notice must be served within 180 days of the accident.
The next step involves litigation, or filing a lawsuit with the local court. The litigation process begins with discovery, where the parties will exchange documents, depose witnesses, and obtain expert reports from experts such as accident reconstructionists or medical doctors. After discovery is complete, the parties will either settle the case or go to trial.
For more information about liability in a Pennsylvania police chase situation, click here.
More from our Pennsylvania police chase accident and liability law library:
- Pennsylvania Police Chase Accident Law-Police Liability for Bystander Injury or Death
- Pennsylvania Police Chase Statistics and Information
Pennsylvania Police Chase Accident & Injury Lawyers
If you’d like to have your case reviewed by our Philadelphia, Pennsylvania police chase accident lawyers, call 215.925.4451. For nearly 30 years, our firm has been helping the injured in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Our lawyers are available for a free, no obligation legal consultation.
*This website does not provide legal advice. Every case is unique and it is important to get a qualified, expert legal opinion prior to making any decisions about your case. See the full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
Published: September 26, 2012