A Texas Cop Hits Your Car During a Police Chase: Who’s at Fault?

This hypothetical question actually happens more than you think. What happens when you are an innocent driver on the road who happens to get hit by a speeding cop who's hot on the heels of a fleeing suspect?

What Are the Odds?

An investigation conducted in California revealed that, between 2017 and 2022, there were 3,336 fatalities as a result of police chases. Over half of these deaths were innocent drivers or bystanders.

As you most likely know, when a cop begins chasing a suspect who fled in their vehicle, odds are that both parties will be driving fast, easily exceeding the posted speed limit.

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The faster you drive, the less control you have over your reaction times. This is why Reyes Law, a law firm in Texas, says that over 25% of all deaths that happen during police chases are innocent bystanders.

What To Do After a Cop Hits You

If you were unlucky enough to be injured during a high-speed chase but lucky enough to survive, there are a few steps you should follow.

For instance, the first thing you should do—after any car accident in general—is check yourself and any other passengers for injuries. Even minor injuries should be treated with caution since your body may be in shock and won't alert you to serious damage immediately following an accident.

Next, take pictures of everything related to the accident that you can. This includes your car, any visible injuries on you or other passengers, any debris or tire marks on the road, and the police vehicle that hit you, if possible.

Asking for witness accounts and contact information is also important. Any names who can vouch for you will help. Also, video footage of any kind like doorbell cameras, street surveillance, and even nearby dashcams will also prove invaluable in this case.

Just like with any other accident, filing a police report is crucial. Due to the fact that you are attempting to place the blame on a police officer or an entire police department, the process may be trickier than the typical car accident report.

Having a personal injury attorney is your best bet for navigating the intricate laws surrounding your case, but this isn't always financially possible for everyone. As long as you have all the information, photos, and witness contacts from the accident that you can gather, you have your best bet at winning the case from getting hit during a police chase.