A San Diego police sergeant and another driver were injured in a three-vehicle accident that occurred in San Carlos. The crash reportedly happened near Mission Trails Golf Course at the intersection of Jackson and Golfcrest Drives. According to witnesses at the scene, a white sedan was traveling north on Jackson when it struck the police vehicle. The sedan had a green light, but the police vehicle was traveling with its lights and sirens on because it was on a call. After striking the police car, the sedan then proceeded to hit a truck that was stopped at the light.
According to preliminary reports, the police sergeant was taken to the hospital for treatment. The woman driving the white sedan was also transported to the hospital. Witnesses stated that there was police activity in the area including a helicopter at the time of the incident. The driver of the truck was not injured.
Move-Over Law
Some drivers may not be aware of the “move-over” law. This law requires drivers to move to the side when they see police vehicles, ambulances, fire trucks, and road repair vehicles with their lights and sirens on. In this case, the driver apparently did not notice either the lights or siren and hit the police vehicle. It is unclear whether the driver was cited for a violation.
The move-over law has been in place since 2009. Drivers must move aside for any emergency vehicle whenever it is safe to do so. If a driver sees an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, he or she must move over into the next lane to allow more room between his or her vehicle and the emergency vehicle. According to California law, drivers who fail to do so could be cited with a traffic violation with a cost of more than $700 and three points on their license.
Accidents and Injuries
Anyone who drives in a negligent manner could be responsible for any injuries caused by an accident. Negligence includes a variety of behavior such as speeding, driving recklessly, tailgating, and other traffic infractions. The failure to move over or to yield to an emergency vehicle is an infraction of the law. A negligent driver will likely be interviewed by the police to determine why he or she failed to yield to a police vehicle with its lights on.
One of the most common reasons for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle is a simple lack of attention. Drivers are required to be in control of their vehicle at all times. Inattention and distracted driving can take a driver’s concentration off the road. Texting can cause a driver to take his or her eyes off the road while a loud radio might prevent a driver from hearing emergency sirens.
When an accident is caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for any resulting injuries and damages. You could receive money for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Contact the Law Office of Patrick G. Shea to discuss the details of your accident today.
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