Car accidents are yet another risk police officers face on duty

With all of the potential calamities that could befall an Ohio police officer while on duty, one more requires addition to the list. Like other emergency responders, police officers run the risk of being involved in car accidents just as anyone else on the road. Even being in marked patrol cars cannot save officers from the mistakes made by other drivers.For example, an Ohio State Highway Patrol officer recently encountered this particular danger. At around 3 a.m., the officer was tasked with responding to an accident on Interstate 71. The roads were not in the best condition since snow covered them. As the officer approached an intersection, another vehicle failed to stop at the stop sign and slammed into his patrol car.Even though the impact was to the driver’s side of the cruiser, the officer managed to escape with minor injuries. Reports indicate that the other driver was impaired at the time of the crash. Considering the number of charges the woman faces in connection with the accident, the situation could have been much worse. While police officers, or other drivers in the performance of their job duties, would be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits under these circumstances, other legal options may also be available.In car accidents involving individuals who drive as part of their job duties, filing a third party claim may be appropriate under the circumstances. For instance, if the evidence indicates that the other driver was at fault, as it appears to in this case, the injured party could pursue restitution through the filing of a personal injury claim. This could allow someone under these circumstances to receive additional recompense not available through the workers’ compensation system.