Officer Struck at Intersection
A police officer from the Missouri City Police Department was sent to the hospital late Wednesday after a passing driver struck his police cruiser. According to police reports, the injured officer had been in the City of Stafford assisting with a road closure that was the result of a previous accident when a driver struck his police cruiser. While the officer who was struck suffered minor injuries, the at-fault driver in the crash was not hurt. The driver of the vehicle who struck the policeman told officers that he had seen the green light; however, he failed to notice the police car, which had its lights on and was stopped in the intersection. The officer from Missouri City had been in the Stafford area following a fatal accident involving a bicyclist and an Amtrak Train. Often police officers will pull a motorist over for things such as breaking a speed limit, a taillight out, or at a DUI checkpoint or other violation. Sometimes officers are there to direct traffic around a dangerous situation such as this one. Accidents can happen in a split second, especially on busy roadways. Being aware of police presence is important in maintaining safety. Sometimes, stopped police and other vehicles are struck by other drivers because of a failure by other drivers to move over. In the U.S. since 1999 more than 150 law enforcement officers and those being stopped have involved in accidents. Some have been killed and hundreds more injured after being struck by vehicles along U.S. highways, freeways and roads. The law says that drivers must move away from the lane nearest to a stopped emergency vehicle such as a police or highway patrol cruiser, ambulance or fire or tow truck and to slow down. Even in the best of scenarios, that might not be possible. You may have to stay in the lane that you are in. In such a case, always follow the directions of police. No how careful you are however, accidents can happen. It pays to have an experienced legal representative on your side. If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious car accident, give our offices a call. Our attorneys have many years of experience representing our clients’ cases in the Texas legal courts. We can help you to recoup not only the cost of damages to your own vehicle, but also the costs of medical treatment, loss of work or wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability and even wrongful death. We can also help you navigate through the maze of paperwork from insurance companies We will serve as your representative and will assist you in finding the best possible course of action for you and your loved ones to take. Your initial consultation with our legal professionals is confidential and without cost or obligation. We are here to help.