Officer cited in personal injury accident in Maryland

Emergency services are in place to protect citizens and attend to community members in a time of need. Sirens, lights and car markings set Maryland emergency responder vehicles apart from other commuter vehicles on the road. When emergency responders are on their way in response to a call for help, most other drivers on the road heed the right away and stop. Sometimes, with windows rolled up and obstructions from signs and other larger vehicles, seeing and hearing oncoming emergency responders and vehicles can be difficult. With high speed from the emergency vehicle and unsuspecting motorists, an accident can occur and often leave motorists and their passengers suffering from personal injury

The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. in Anne Arundel County. The officer was traveling north on a busy highway. She had her lights and siren activated on her patrol vehicle in response to an emergency call.

The victim and her two children were turning left across the highway on a green light. The victim’s view of the northbound lanes and the oncoming patrol car were obstructed by a box truck. The patrol car struck the side of the vehicle with a force great enough to turn the victim’s vehicle on its side. The victim and her two children, ages 12 and 8, were transported to local hospital for treatment. The officer was transported to a local trauma center for treatment and has been issued a citation for failure to drive an emergency vehicle safely.

When a Maryland motorist is unable to see an oncoming emergency vehicle, the ability to slow, stop or move out of the way is almost impossible until it is too late. Emergency responders use great caution the majority of the time when responding to emergency calls, but sometimes, caution is not enough. When a person or family member is injured in a car accident, the family can seek compensation for personal injury sustained due to negligence in civil court. Attorneys can help families understand the parameters of their cases and possibly seek financial settlements to help cover any medical bills or lost wages that occurred as a result of the accident.

Source: Baltimore.cbslocal.com, “Md. Natural Resource Officer Issued Citation for Crash, 3 Injured“, April 5, 2017