When you see flashing lights behind you, you should know to pull over to the side of the road. When police officers, ambulances or other emergency personnel are approaching, it’s your responsibility to stop and wait for them to pass. If an officer is behind you, you should stop as soon as it is safe to do so, so you can hear what they have to say.
If a driver attempts to leave the scene after a traffic stop too soon, the police may begin a pursuit. It’s a bad idea to leave because erratic driving could lead to a crash. Take, for example, this case in which one man was killed and two women suffered serious injuries after the driver decided to flee a traffic stop.
The police reported that a Chevrolet Blazer was stopped for a violation. When the officer turned around to make a stop, the Blazer sped away. Not long after that, the driver failed to navigate a curve and ended up leaving the road. She then collided with a tree.
The woman, 39, had serious injuries as a result of her actions. Two passengers were inside the vehicle; one, 28, had serious injuries, and a second, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Passengers are usually not able to control a driver’s actions, which means that passengers or their families may be able to seek compensation from a driver who caused a collision and their serious injuries. Those who have lost a loved one in a crash like this may be able to pursue compensation for that person’s wrongful death. No driver should put others in harm’s way.
