Male Pedestrian Died In El Segundo Car Accident With Police Officer on Pacific Coast Highway Near El Segundo Boulevard
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA (October 10, 2022) – A man has tragically died in an El Segundo car accident with a police officer on Pacific Coast Highway by El Segundo Boulevard.
Los Angeles County police officials are saying that the accident took place just before 9:55 p.m. on Friday. A police officer was heading south on Pacific Coast Highway when he hit the man.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Despite the best efforts of first responders, the pedestrian died as a result of his injuries.
The police officer remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. It remains unclear if the officer was responding to an emergency when they killed the pedestrian.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For El Segundo Police Car Accidents
Nearly 300 people are killed every year in car accidents with police vehicles. A disproportionate number of these fatalities occur during police pursuits. Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable. It is common for pedestrians to be hit by police vehicles as they respond to emergencies. There are a number of steps that police officers should take in order to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- Police officers should be well rested before the start of their shift.
- Police officers should use their lights and sirens when responding to an emergency.
- Police officers should continuously scan the road ahead of them for potential hazards.
Determining liability for any accident involving a police officer can be difficult. In general, police departments are granted a great deal of immunity for accidents involving their officers when those officers are responding to an actual emergency. However, police officers must use their lights and sirens to warn others about their presence, according to California Vehicle Code Section 21055. If a police officer fails to use their lights and sirens and hits a pedestrian during an emergency call, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
When a police officer is not responding to an emergency, the must obey the rules of the road like every other driver. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21950, the driver of any vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid any pedestrian in the roadway. If a police officer fails to slow down to avoid hitting a pedestrian, the police department that they work for could be held at fault. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any police vehicle accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The police officer’s dashcam footage should be examined.
- It should be determined if the officer was responding to an emergency.
It can be difficult to know where to begin after any accident involving a police officer. But it is important to remember that accident victims do have rights. The family of any pedestrian killed in an accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages can help cover many of the expenses that can come with the sudden loss of a loved one. Sadly, police departments will often fight hard to deny liability for any collision. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Los Angeles County Police Car Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of the pedestrian killed in this collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of the victim’s family.
Do you need more information about an El Segundo police car accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
