From Philadelphia, PA law offices, our personal injury attorneys represent victims of high-speed police chases throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

From 1968′s Bullit to 2008′s The Dark Knight, high-speed police car chases have been the stuff of Hollywood legend, but in real life, high-speed car crashes have tragic consequences. In Coatesville, a 13 year-old boy crashed a stolen car and died during a police chase. In Richmond, Virginia, beloved Pastor Anthony Taylor was killed leaving church when his truck was hit broadside by a man fleeing from police. In San Jose, California, a 15-year-old was killed when a suspect ran a red light while evading police. These tragic stories are not isolated events. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, almost 400 people die each year in police chases. In 2010, several high-profile chases prompted many state officials to rethink their policies on high-speed criminal pursuit.

The Philadelphia Police Department reviewed its policy in 2008 after two of its officers died from high-speed chases. Commissioner Charles Ramsay elevated the standard for high-speed pursuit in an effort to reduce the dangers that these pursuits create for the public, police officers and even suspects.

Most police departments have documented policies of the vehicular pursuit of criminals. These special procedures allow officers to pursue possible offenders under reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, such as traffic offenses, or for probable cause of violent criminal offenses, such as rape, robbery or murder. Many states, including Virginia, follow the more restrictive policy and some states, such as California, have policies that require officers to weigh the risk to the community against the gravity of the offense.

Those who study police chases, such as University of South Carolina Professor Geoffrey Alpert, claim that fatality statistics are three to four times higher than reported. Professor Alpert adds that about 35-40% of all police chases end in crashes. While Professor Alpert believes that 17,000 of the nation’s police departments are moving toward more restrictive policies, National Institute of Justice research proves that more restrictive policies can save lives.

Many jurisdictions battle with the pros and cons of their pursuit policies. These law enforcement professionals also have protocols in place that opt for less risky methods of apprehending offenders. Many law enforcement agencies opt for methods that are less risky, such as roadblocks and coordinating emergency response personnel.

For some time, many law enforcement departments have been rethinking their vehicular pursuit policies. Their actions are prompted by the injuries and deaths of innocent bystanders and passengers. While offenders continue to believe that public roadways are their personal Grand Prix, officers are handcuffed by the need to prevent current and future harms. In either case, the real issue will always be protecting innocent lives.

High-speed pursuits will continue to put the public in danger, even stricter rules in place. If you or someone you care about is injured as the result of a high-speed pursuit promptly contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. A lawyer can quickly collect and preserve evidence crucial for protecting an innocent victim’s rights.

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