Local News
An elderly man was struck and injured by an Atlanta police cruiser on Metropolitan Parkway Sunday evening, June 8, 2014.
According to 11 Alive News, an elderly Atlanta man was trying to retrieve a dog on Metropolitan Parkway, near Milam Avenue, when he was struck by a police cruiser. Police Spokesperson Kim Jones told media the officer was responding to reports of a fight when his left corner bumper hit the the elderly victim, sending him over the hood and into the windshield. The victim was unresponsive at the scene and rushed to Grady Memorial in serious condition.
Our Legal Take
Advocates for pedestrian rights and personal injury attorneys at The Murray Law Firm are following media updates closely and question what factors may have contributed to this accident:
Police report the patrol car was responding to an emergency call at the time of the accident. How fast was the officer traveling? Did excessive speed prevent the officer from stopping or swerving for the pedestrian and animal in time? APD told media the patrol cruiser lights were activated. Were sirens also activated to alert pedestrians as the vehicle approached?
A recent surge in Georgia pedestrian accidents has many in the community concerned for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. While Georgia police and emergency responders are heroes of our community, they must also be held accountable for sharing the roads with those they protect.
Should the driver in this incident be found at fault, the victim and his family may elect to file civil claims for his injuries. Such a claim may be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and would, most importantly, serve to remind all Georgia drivers, including our emergency responders, of the necessity of sharing the roads with pedestrians.
As this complex claim may entail additional filings with the county, the victim’s family should retain an experienced law firm as soon as possible to ensure all evidence relating to the accident, such as the patrol car camera footage, is preserved and that the family’s best interests are protected.
The Murray Law Firm has extensive experience in victims of pedestrian accidents and we offer our legal expertise, if needed. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 404.842.1600.