Posted in Aggressive Driving,Car Accident,Negligence,Pedestrian Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on April 3, 2015
Nashville Police Officer Struck by Hit-and-Run Driver While Responding to Call
A police officer with the Nashville Metro Police Department suffered injuries to his foot after he was struck by a vehicle while he was responding to domestic call on Thursday afternoon.
According to wkrn.com, the accident occurred at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Old Hickory Boulevard in Nashville, Tennessee, around 3 p.m.
Other police who were also at the scene of the accident and domestic call said that the suspect ran away on foot when the officer first arrived on the scene. As the officer was chasing the suspect through the neighborhood, he was struck by an older model gold Nissan Altima with tinted windows.
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene after striking the officer, who suffered an injury to his foot.
The suspect who was the subject of the original call was eventually found and taken into custody, while the driver of the hit-and-run vehicle is still at large.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers hope the police officer who was injured in this hit-and-run accident recovers completely from his injuries.
How Do Police Find Hit-and-Run Drivers?
A hit-and-run accident is a serious criminal offense. If you were injured by a hit-and-run driver, not only can you press criminal charges against that person, but you can also file a lawsuit to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more.
But first, police must find or identify the driver who hit you. They have several ways of doing that, including:
Witnesses of the accident can provide police with valuable information, including the make, model, and even license plate number of the vehicle. The more information police have about the vehicle that struck you, the quicker they’ll be able to identify the driver. In some cases, witnesses can even identify the driver themselves—especially if the accident occurs in a residential area.
Cameras are more and more common on and around roadways in Nashville. If they’re not installed at intersections, they’re often installed at stores near roadways. Those cameras often pick up footage of accidents that occur nearby. Police can use the footage to get a description of the vehicle that caused your hit-and-run accident and use that information to begin searching for the suspect.
Car accidents—even hit-and-run pedestrian accidents—can leave debris, such as small pieces of the vehicle, paint chips, and glass. This evidence can be used to determine what type of vehicle struck the victim, including its make, model, and color. The more debris police can collect from the accident scene, the better they can piece together what the vehicle involved looks like.
In some cases, police receive anonymous tips from people who know the suspect, including family members, friends, or coworkers. These tips are invaluable, as they often lead police directly to the suspect and eliminate the need for a drawn-out search process.
The Nashville auto accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law know how devastating hit-and-run accidents are for victims—especially when they feel like the person who hurt them will never be found. Our legal team fully cooperates with the police on all hit-and-run cases, and we use every resource available to help identify the drivers in these cases to help our clients get the compensation they deserve.
If you or someone you love was injured in a hit-and-run accident, get in touch with our attorneys today. Just dial (615) 200-1111 or fill out a free online form. It’s our goal to help you move forward with your life and put the accident behind you for good.
