Getting hurt while on the job may seem like it's all in the line of duty for police, but in reality, many injuries can be prevented if the public takes time to obey traffic laws. In Maryland, two Maryland State Police vehicles were hit recently, and police have asked to remind people that they need to drive sober and to obey the Move Over Law. Although no one suffered serious injuries in these accidents, had the officers done anything differently, the outcome could have been much worse.
In one case, a police officer was outside his vehicle when a vehicle struck his patrol car. At that point, the officer was not injured, but his vehicle was sideswiped, leaving it damaged. The driver also drove away following the accident, fleeing the scene.
In the second case, a pair of police officers was sitting in a patrol vehicle when a vehicle traveling the wrong direction collided head-on with the patrol car. The police reported that the driver made no attempt to avoid the crash and had been intoxicated at the time of the collision. Neither trooper suffered serious injuries in this crash, either.
In Maryland, the Move Over Law requires drivers who see emergency personnel with their lights activated to move over at least one lane or to slow down if moving over isn't possible. In both of these cases, the neglectful drivers could have seriously injured or killed the officers. If you've found yourself in a situation where you've been hit or hurt on patrol, you deserve to be compensated for your work injuries. You may also be entitled to compensation from the negligent driver.