Decolator Cohen & Di Prisco

Add to Favorites

OPEN NOW

Today: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

26 Years

in Business

Is this your business?

Customize this page.

Hours

Regular Hours

Mon - Fri:	9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Traffic Violations
Although police officers are given extensive driver’s training, line-of-duty car accidents occur when motorists ignore the basic safety regulations (i.e., failing to stop at traffic control devices, speeding and failure to maintain a safe distance). Line-of-duty motor vehicle accidents also occur when motorists ignore emergency lights and sirens and fail to yield to emergency police vehicles. Unfortunately, this scenario is common in the City of New York. Pursuant to Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1144(a), motorists must yield to emergency vehicles. If an accident occurs, the offending motorist may be liable for any injuries suffered by the occupants of the police car, even if the police vehicle had the red light. In a similar scenario, the passengers of the police vehicle may also have a claim against the City of New York, if the driver of the police vehicle was reckless in its operation. Although Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1104 permits authorized emergency vehicles privileges to “violate” sections of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, these privileges do not include a driver’s recklessness. If the operator of an emergency vehicle is “reckless” in its operation, and an accident ensues, the passengers in the emergency vehicle may have a claim against the City of New York provided those individuals satisfy Insurance Law Section 5102(d), the definition of a “serious injury.”

Provided by