Baldwin Park, CA – 5 Injured in West Covina Police Chase Crash On Francisquito Ave.

Baldwin Park, CA (May 18, 2019) – A multi-vehicle accident involving a driver fleeing from West Covina police occurred early Friday morning, that injured five people.

Shortly after 1 a.m., a West Covina police officer attempted to pull over a driver at Fairgrove and Sandy Hook Avenues for traffic violations. The black Nissan Altima then took off. The chase went on the 10 Freeway to the 605 freeway when the officer lost sight of the car. A Sheriff’s helicopter spotted the car in Baldwin Park and redirected West Covina police.

The Nissan collided with a white Porsche Cayenne at Francisquito and Puente avenues in Baldwin Park, which left him and four others injured early Friday morning.

A passenger from the Nissan ran from the car after the crash was but caught by officers. The driver and two other passengers were injured and remained in the car. The driver was cited for evading police and his three passengers were cited for resisting arrest.

Based on reports, Nissan was speeding and ran a red light at the intersection. The other car was heading north on Puente Ave.

Emergency responders were called to the scene to render aid the injured drivers.  The injured parties were transported to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center for treatment and further evaluation. The man who drove the Nissan, and a woman and a man riding in the car were injured and taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center. The driver was in critical condition. The two women in the Porsche were also injured in the crash.

We send healing thoughts to the injured parties and their families at this time.  Our thoughts are with them all during this difficult time as we hope for a full recovery.

Who Is Liable For Injuries Caused When A Police Chase Leads To An Accident?

Being an innocent bystander during a police chase can be terrifying. And if you’ve suffered injuries as the result of such a chase, consulting an attorney is important to protect your rights.

In most cases, the suspect that is responsible for the chase is liable because all drivers owe a duty of care. When a suspect is speeding, swerving, or not stopping at traffic lights, or doing various other reckless behavior, he’s neglecting this duty.

However, a chased suspect’s insurance policy may fight any claim resulting from a chase-related injury. Many insurance policies specifically prohibit coverage for “damages caused by intentional and criminal acts.”

When the insurance company refuses to pay, you can try to collect from the driver’s personal assets. Unfortunately, a suspect may not have any assets at all. In this case, you’d have to turn to your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Police officers have legal protections not afforded to an ordinary motorist. To reduce the risk of injury during a police chase, officers are required to undergo high-performance training that simulates various road and highway conditions. This allows officers to master skills such as high-speed cornering or driving a car that’s skidding out of control.

Before continuing on a chase, however, police officers are supposed to consider a number of factors:

• The suspect’s offense
• If there are safer alternatives
• Weather conditions
• Traffic and road situations
• Potential risk the chase poses
• Danger the suspect poses

If an officer starts a chase for a low-level offense when safer methods are available, he may be found liable. However, if the chase was necessary, the officer’s conduct would probably be viewed as justifiable. If a police officer is found liable for your injuries, the city or agency employing the officer is responsible.

Whatever the case, you should seek the advice of a personal injury attorney.

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured or passed away due to an accident involving a police chase, seek the help of an attorney with solid experience. Brady Law Group can help you deal with the legal pitfalls of this situation and help you handle claims with insurance companies. We offer experienced accident attorneys who can help you in your time of need. Please contact us today at 866-478-6483.

Note: Outside sources were used in the creation of this post including news bulletins and first-hand accounts of the accident and injuries involved. As a result, the details of the accident presented have not been independently verified by our own writing staff. If you have identified any false information in the story, please inform us immediately, and we will adjust the posting to reflect the most accurate content available.

Disclaimer: As a member of the local community, we at Brady Law Group strive to improve the overall safety and quality of life for everyone who lives in our beloved state. We are extremely saddened by these accidents but hope that, through an awareness of these dangers, those in our community will take precautions to avoid these accidents. This is not a solicitation for business, and this information should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. We wish only the best and quickest recovery to all those involved in the accident.