Temple Hills, MD — A woman was critically injured after being hit by a police cruiser in Temple Hills, Maryland, on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. The accident took place in the 3200 block of Branch Avenue, around 12:30 in the morning.
The woman involved in the accident was crossing the highway when the accident happened, however, she was not crossing in a crosswalk. She suffered severe injuries and was taken to a local hospital. However, officials say they expect her to pull through.
The police officer who hit the woman was not running the lights or the siren on his cruiser. He has been placed in administrative duty while the accident is being investigated.
Scene of the Accident
View from the Road
Commentary
If the investigation into this accident shows that the police officer involved was at fault, then the victim may have an opportunity to bring a claim against the man, possibly the police department. However, laws against suing the government (police departments are considered municipal entities) can be very difficult to navigate. I can’t speak to specifics in Maryland, but in Texas, there are very strict filing deadlines that have to be observed, and there are limits to the amount of compensation that a person can receive. Again, laws in Maryland may be and probably are different. So victims of these types of accidents have to make sure to educate themselves on specifics. In this case, an independent investigation may be warranted, as it’s possible the police department can’t be relied on to present any narrative that doesn’t present them in the best possible light.
— Grossman Law Offices
