Recent police chases across New Jersey have resulted in numerous injuries, and the injured parties are often completely innocent people who have not committed any crimes. One might argue that this illustrates a certain degree of negligence or recklessness on the part of police officers in the Garden State. After all, their primary duty is to serve and protect. If police officers leave injured citizens in their wake as they chase criminals, they are causing more harm than good. If you have been injured by a police chase in New Jersey, you might be wondering how to pursue compensation for medical expenses, missed wages, and emotional distress.
New Jersey Trooper Causes Multi-Vehicle Crash in Mercer County
On August 15, 2023, it was reported that a New Jersey trooper had sparked a three-vehicle collision in Mercer County. Two people were injured as a result. The trooper apparently rear-ended an SUV after exiting a tunnel, causing a chain-reaction crash. The SUV then went on to hit a smaller vehicle. The individual who suffered the most serious injuries seems to be the occupant of the smaller vehicle, although details on this incident are sparse. It is not clear why the trooper rear-ended the other vehicle, or whether this might be connected with a police chase. However, it is clear that the rear vehicle is almost always at fault in a rear-end accident.
Camden Police Chase Leaves One Innocent Driver With Serious Injuries
In July 2023, a Camden police chase broke out at 1:30 AM. The high-speed pursuit centered around a suspect in a black truck. However, it was not the suspect who suffered injuries at the end of the crash, but rather an innocent motorist behind the wheel of a Jeep. This individual suffered serious injuries and had to be hospitalized as a result. The suspect collided with the innocent driver, not the police. However, questions have been raised about the decision to continue the chase.
Woman Dies After Collision With Police Car in Long Branch
On August 15, 2023, it was reported that a woman had lost her life after a collision with a police car in Long Branch, New Jersey. The woman had the ill fortune of being in the same vehicle as a burglary suspect, and the police may not have known that she was in the vehicle. The suspect also suffered serious injuries, and it is unclear how this situation will be handled. Was the passenger’s death caused by the police, or is the suspect to blame for bringing her into the police chase? These questions will ultimately be answered by the resulting legal process.
Mayor of New Jersey Town Decides to Join Police Chase, Disaster Ensues
On August 16, it was reported that a lawsuit was being filed in connection to a police chase in the town of Princeton that led to the death of one teen and a government official. What makes this police chase particularly puzzling is the fact that the town mayor appears to have joined the pursuit. According to a lawsuit filed by the victims, the Princeton mayor decided to put flashing blue lights on his non-police vehicle in 2021, following the police vehicles for unknown reasons.
The families of the victims now argue that the police chase should not have occurred, and that it put innocent people in harm’s way. New Jersey has vague policies when it comes to police chases, although many departments specifically ban officers from engaging in pursuits if there is serious risk to the general public. This means that if police departments violate these policies, they may be held accountable. It is unclear how the mayor made the situation more dangerous, although police may have seen this as an official endorsement from the local police that it was acceptable to continue with the chase.
Where Can I Find a Qualified Personal Injury Attorney in New Jersey?
If you have been harmed by a police chase or any other interaction with law enforcement, you may have the ability to pursue compensation. In order to assess your legal options, consider booking a consultation with a personal injury attorney in New Jersey. Reach out to Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. at your earliest convenience to get started with an effective action plan. By filing a personal injury lawsuit, you can pursue compensation for medical expenses, missed wages, emotional distress, PTSD, or any other damages you might have been forced to endure.
The firm’s principals, Gabriel R. Lependorf and David E. Silverstein, have each been representing injured victims in the State of New Jersey for over thirty years.
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