Two police officers and two other civilians were injured in a Los Angeles car accident involving four vehicles, including two police cruisers. According to a Fox News report, the injury collision occurred the afternoon of August 13, 2010 in the 700 block of South Western Avenue, in Koreatown. A female police officer sustained serious injuries while a male officer and two civilians suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The officers were not involved in a pursuit at the time, but they were responding to a call possibly regarding a stolen vehicle.

It is indeed a relief that no one was fatally injured in this car crash. My thoughts and prayers are with the officers and civilians involved in this incident. I wish them all a quick and compete recovery.

Los Angeles Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 268 fatalities and 25,588 personal injuries involving car accidents in Los Angeles. Countywide, during the same year, 667 people died and 52,229 were injured as a result of car accidents.

Fault and Liability

It is unclear from this news report how the accident occurred and who may be at fault. An official investigation will have to determine if the police officers were driving dangerously while pursuing a suspect or if the other vehicles involved did not yield right- of-way to the emergency vehicles.

According to California Vehicle Code section 21806, when emergency vehicles with lights and/or sirens approach, "the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, clear of any intersection, and thereupon shall stop and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed." However, police and other emergency vehicles are also required to follow protocols and policies set by their own department and the state of California.

In such cases, injured victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will explain their legal rights and options. If the police officers were at fault in this case, their employer, the Los Angeles Police Department could be held liable for the injuries caused to the civilians. If one of the other drivers were responsible for the crash, then, the injured officers can claim compensation from the at-fault driver in addition to claiming worker's compensation benefits, as they were on-the-job at the time. Under California Government Code section 911.2, any personal injury claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the incident.

Have you had any mishaps involving emergency vehicles that were responding to a call?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.