At least three people, including a Cathedral City police officer, sustained injuries in a Riverside car accident the evening of December 31, 2009, after a police car collided with another vehicle at a Palm Springs intersection. According to a KESQ news report, the injury accident happened at the intersection of Ramon and Crossley when an officer hit a Hyundai as he was trying to catch up with another police car.

According to a witness who saw the entire incident happen, the officer was speeding through the intersection and went through a red light striking a Hyundai. Police say the officer suffered a broken leg and a reserve officer riding in the police car suffered a minor injury. The occupants of the Hyundai suffered cuts and bruises, officials said. The eyewitness interviewed by a local television channel said she saw it happen and believes that this accident was the officer's fault.

I hope the occupants of the Hyundai did not sustain any major injuries in this car accident. I wish all the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

There were seven fatalities and 427 injuries involving car accidents in Palm Springs, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics. In Riverside County as a whole, 279 deaths and 9,925 injuries were reported as a result of traffic accidents during the same year.

Who is Liable?

If the eyewitness reports were accurate, it appears that the police officer may have been at fault here for blowing through a red light and crashing into the Hyundai. There are still several unanswered questions here. What was the nature of the emergency that caused the officer to go through that Palm Springs intersection? Did he have the lights and sirens in his vehicle on? Did he follow all department procedures and protocols in this case? I'm glad to note that the CHP, an outside agency, is investigating this case. I'd also be interested to know the exact nature of the injuries to the victims in the Hyundai.

An Experienced Injury Lawyer Can Help

If the police officer is determined to have been at-fault in this case, the occupants of the Hyundai would have a personal injury claim against the Cathedral City Police Department. Any claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will stay on top of the official investigation and make sure that the victims' legal rights are protected.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

Bookmark and Share