Seventy-Two Year Old Woman Injured In Car Accident With On-Duty Police Officer Near High Street and Mill Street

SELMA, CALIFORNIA (October 24, 2023) – A 72-year-old woman was injured in a car accident with a Selma Police Department officer not far from High Street and Mill Street.

Fresno County officials are saying that the accident took place around 7:55 p.m. on Friday. An on-duty police officer hit an elderly pedestrian as she was walking.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. She was taken to a local hospital in order to receive treatment.

A full investigation into the Selma car accident remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For Selma Police Car Accidents

According to the National Safety Council, accidents involving police vehicles accounted for roughly 70% of all fatalities involving emergency vehicles in 2021. Police cars can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians. Pedestrians lack the protection of enclosed vehicles and are much more likely to be overlooked. There are a number of factors that could contribute to a car accident involving a police vehicle.

• Police officers may be distracted by service calls or their onboard computers.
• Police officers may need to speed during an emergency trip.
• Police officers often need to work at night when pedestrians may be less visible.

All police officers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians. Pursuant to California Civil Code 21950, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. Drivers should also use their horn when necessary to alert pedestrians of their presence. If the driver of a vehicle fails to slow down to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any accident with a police vehicle.

• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• Photos of the accident site should be taken.
• Medical records should be preserved.
• It should be determined if the officer involved was on-duty.
• The police report of the accident should be reviewed.

The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are preventable. They are much more likely to occur at night and during inclement weather. The police department that an officer worked for could be liable for a crash if they were on-duty when a collision took place. Any person that is injured in a car accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. A personal injury attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Getting Legal Help After A Police Car Accident

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our best wishes to the woman injured in this Selma collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other accidents like this.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Selma police vehicle accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that police departments are held accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.