What Is a Pursuit Accident?

Car chases can seem somewhat like a spectator event, especially for those who are watching events play out from home. The use of these pursuits in media has heightened the excitement factor, but while watching the police attempt to catch a criminal may be fun from afar, these police pursuits bring very high risks to drivers who are on the road at the time.

Pursuit Accidents

Pursuit accidents are any vehicle collisions that occur because of a police pursuit of another vehicle. This can include the pursued vehicle crashing, the police vehicle crashing, or incidents with other vehicles whose drivers are trying to avoid the chase. Oftentimes uninvolved bystanders can become the unfortunate victims of a police pursuit.

One in every 100 police pursuits results in a fatality, according to the FBI, while one-third of all pursuits ends with a collision. What’s more: Most pursuits take place after police attempt to stop suspects for nonviolent crimes. The pursuit tactic is dangerous for everyone involved and sometimes does not even bring the desired result.

The usefulness of police pursuits doesn’t compare to the amount of damage they cause. Many law enforcement organizations are beginning to question the wisdom of using such chases when measured against the potential dangers to those involved in them.

Issues with Liability and Compensation

Pursuit accidents involve unique legal issues that differ from the typical personal injury case. In car traditional accidents, the at-fault driver becomes the liable party and is responsible for paying any resulting damages. Pursuit accidents can complicate this issue depending on which party was responsible for the incident.

In many pursuit accidents, the fleeing driver does not have proper insurance coverage, which makes it difficult for victims to get the compensation they deserve. Even if the court orders the evading driver to pay restitution, the lack of insurance can present a problem. When evading drivers must serve prison time, it becomes even more difficult for victims to recover damages.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Texas law requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance in case of an accident. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can help injured parties recover damages after an accident, including pursuit crashes.

The prospect of being unable to recover damages in a pursuit accident is another reason for drivers to consider adding uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage to their insurance policies so they can file a claim if the at-fault party cannot fully cover the cost of damages. This coverage is helpful beyond police pursuits; it’s useful in any accident that has the potential of the at-fault driver having insufficient financial responsibility.

While you may not often find yourself involved in a police pursuit, the possibility exists, and if the moment arrives, you will be in a high-risk situation for an accident. Instead of facing potentially unrecoverable damages if a crash occurs, you can prepare yourself by expanding your insurance coverage.

How a Lawyer Can Help

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a pursuit accident, you will need the help of a skilled lawyer to properly assess the damages in your case and navigate the legal issues. Having an attorney on your side can make it easier to decide what your best steps are moving forward, depending on the evading driver’s insurance coverage.

An attorney can also help you understand uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and assist you with filing a claim after a pursuit accident. No matter the level of damages, you can expect the attorneys of Gordon, Elias, & Seely LLP to defend your rights and assist you through the aftermath of an accident every step of the way.