Motorists expect the police officers will follow the rules of the road. After all, they ensure that motorists abide by the rules and give citations to those who don’t. However, even police officers are not above the law. One police officer in Bradenton, Florida, recently caused an accident after failing to yield at an intersection. He crashed into a motorcycle, injuring the riders.
The accident occurred just before noon on Oct. 16 in Bradenton. The police officer was looking for a suspect in a bomb scare that had occurred nearby in the Bradenton Village apartments. A motorcyclist was on 14th Street West, traveling north. The officer was distracted and turned onto 21st Avenue West, failing to yield.
The motorcycle and the police cruiser collided, throwing a woman and her husband off the motorcycle. They both landed on the ground away from the patrol car. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, where it was determined the man broke his ankle. He needed emergency surgery to fix his fractured ankle. Additional surgeries will likely be required, as well. The couple claims they were not at fault for the accident.
The police department will investigate the accident to determine if the police officer was, in fact, at fault. If so, he will be suspended for one day without pay.
Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries or even death. The woman and her husband are very fortunate that their injuries were not more severe in nature. Because the man will need future surgeries for his ankle, the couple may want to explore their legal options. They may wish to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to recover compensation for current and future medical expenses, as well as other damages.
Source:
Officer.com, “Florida Police Cruiser Collides With Motorcycle” Jessica De Leon, Oct. 17, 2013
