At least one person was seriously injured in a Los Angeles car accident after a vehicle collided with a Los Angeles Police Department patrol vehicle at a street intersection the night of March 19, 2010. The Los Angeles Daily News reports that the police cruiser and a Mercedes Benz sedan collided at the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Colfax Avenue in the Valley Village area. One person was taken to a local hospital for treatment. An investigation is ongoing.

I hope the victim did not sustain any catastrophic injuries in this crash. It is not clear at this point if any more individuals were involved. I wish the seriously injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Los Angeles Car Accidents

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

How Did this Crash Occur?

Based on this news report, it is not clear how or why this injury collision occurred. I trust investigators are looking into who had right-of-way at the time and whose fault this accident was. If the Mercedes' driver was at fault, then he or she could be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. If, on the other hand, the police officer driving the cruiser is determined to be at-fault, the Los Angeles Police Department (the employer) could be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries.

Investigation and Liability

I hope that this crash is being investigated by an outside law enforcement agency in order to maintain fairness and objectivity. I'm skeptical of law enforcement agencies that investigate one of their own. If I were one of the injured victims, I would also want to know whether the police were responding to an incident and how fast they were going at the time.

In this case, it would be in the best interest of the injured party or parties to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the investigation and make sure that the facts come out. There are time limitations when it comes to filing personal injury claims against government agencies. In California, such claims must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

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.