According to Miami-Dade Police, the driver of a stolen van collided into two police vehicles early Friday morning during a police chase in the city of Miami. According to a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Police department, officers spotted the van shortly after 3 a.m., which matched the description of a van involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred in April. The spokesperson says the suspect tried to flee the scene but was later taken into custody. Another person inside the vehicle was also arrested. While the van was confirmed to be stolen, detectives determined that it was not the same van used in a fatal hit-and-run in April. According to the police, the hit-and-run occurred at night on April 11 and left a pedestrian, identified as Geovany Merlos Ramos, 39, dead.
Police said Ramos was crossing Southwest Eighth Avenue at Second Street when he was struck by a white, 1999-2002 Dodge Ram 1500 van. Authorities said the van had no rear-side windows. Ramos was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Crash with a Police Vehicle?
There are many different ways to determine liability for a Florida crash. In most cases, the party at fault is the one who had a duty of care to the person injured and who’s found to be guilty of violating that duty. There are generally two ways to obtain compensation for your damages against law enforcement after an accident with a police vehicle. The first method involves filing a negligence suit. The first is, like any suit, simple negligence. The problem is the same suing the State of Florida is not the same as making a claim against a person or a private corporation. Traditionally, governments have prevented people from suing them, under the doctrine of sovereign immunity. Sovereign immunity is a concept that developed hundreds of years ago in England. Essentially, sovereign immunity kept people from making claims against the king, his representatives, or the government. While this concept transferred over to the U.S., many states in America allow people to sue them for damages under certain circumstances. In Florida, a person who is injured by the government or a government employee may file an injury claim if the injury was caused by the negligence or wrongful act or omission of the government, the loss can be compensated with money damages, and the circumstances are such that the negligent party would have been liable as a private party. However, the statute lists certain limitations on an injured parties’ ability to sue. The second option for injured victims is to sue under what is referred to as “Section 1983,” a federal statute that provides a private right of action to citizens whose civil
rights are violated by government agencies. However, liability under that statute requires more than simple negligence and you will have to file in federal court.
Speak with a Miami Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident involving a police vehicle, you may have a legal right to recover significant compensation for your injuries. The Law Offices of Suarez & Montero is a personal injury law firm with locations in Miami and Broward. A personal injury claim can seek funds that cover medical expenses, lost income and other damages. The accident attorneys at Suarez & Montero can help those of you who would like to pursue a car accident claim. To discuss how we can assist you, call us or contact us online. We encourage you to learn more about and the successes our attorneys have had on behalf of individuals and families who have suffered serious
personal injury in accidents involving vehicles. Call us today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review your case and help you understand your legal options.
We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:
Miami-Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.
Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.
