Tampa Injury Lawyer : Who protects you from the protected?

By Nicholas J. Dorsten, Esq.

This goes to show you that even the police are capable of major driving mistakes. According to an article in the St. Petersburg Times, A police cruiser pulled into the path of a small SUV on Monday afternoon, authorities said, causing a wreck that sent one civilian and two St. Petersburg officers to the hospital with minor injuries.

The crash occurred shortly after noon near Sixth Street S and 36th Avenue S, by the South Side Shopping Center, police said.

A St. Petersburg police report said that the at-fault Officer was headed east on 36th Avenue S in a fully-marked 2008 Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser. He stopped at a stop sign at Sixth Street, then pulled forward and attempted to turn left onto northbound Sixth Street, police said.

But police said the agency vehicle pulled into the path of a 2004 Mazda Tribute driven by a civilian driver. The front-end of the Mazda struck the driver's side of the police car, spinning it into a nearby wooden power pole.

The at-fault officer, 22, and his passenger, 32, suffered minor injuries and had to be freed from the wreckage by firefighters. The Mazda's driver, also suffered minor injuries. All three were taken to Bayfront Medical Center, and all three were expected to be released late Monday.

The department's preliminary findings: the officer was at fault because he failed to yield. The investigation will continue and the officer could be disciplined in the wreck. Traditionally officers involved in on-duty traffic infractions are disciplined by the department instead of being issued citations, per the police spokesman.

I often get asked questions about taking on Government employees, such as Police Officers or firefighters, who were at fault in a car crash. Questions that often come up include: Can I sue the Government/City? Are you afraid to go after the County even if they are at fault on my Personal Injury matter? What can be recovered for damages?

The questions are fairly straight forward. While there is something called "Governmental Immunity", you can still sue your local/state government if they are at fault for your injury. With a few exceptions, the most you can collect is $100,000.00 for your injury, pain and suffering, and medical bills. The good news for victims who are involved in a personal injury cae is that the law is clear....your Lawyer is only entitled to 25% of any recovery (not the 1/3 or 40% that is traditional).

The answer to the other question is no, we are not afraid to sue a local/state government for your personal injury damages caused by their carelessness. We have filed dozens of suits against police and governement agencies with good results.

Injured? Then call the Clearwater Florida based Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for all your Personal Injury needs. We handle car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents and wrongful death cases.


For more information, or to speak directly with an experienced Personal Injury lawyer, please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email your questions to: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg, across from the 49th street criminal courthouse at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104, Clearwater 33762.