Police Cruiser Rear-ended on Interstate 80
July 15, 2022 | Workers' compensation
Give ‘Em a Brake!
We’ve all heard the warnings about slowing down for traffic accidents and road crews working on our roads, it is even a Nebraska state law to move over a lane if you see an officer on the side of the road.
A few weeks ago, a deputy was inside a Douglas County cruiser for a traffic stop on the side of Interstate 80 in Omaha. A motorist failed to follow the Nebraska Move Over law and struck the deputy’s cruiser in the rear end. The deputy seems to be okay at this time, but it could have been much worse.
It’s a state law to move over a lane if possible that is described in Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,378
“Stopped authorized emergency vehicle or road assistance vehicle; driver; duties; violation; penalty.
(1)(a) A driver in a vehicle on a controlled-access highway approaching or passing a stopped authorized emergency vehicle or road assistance vehicle which makes use of proper audible or visual signals shall proceed with due care and caution as described in subdivision (b) of this subsection.
- b) On a controlled-access highway with at least two adjacent lanes of travel in the same direction on the same side of the highway where a stopped authorized emergency vehicle or road assistance vehicle is using proper audible or visual signals, the driver of the vehicle shall proceed with due care and caution and yield the right-of-way by moving into a lane at least one moving lane apart from the stopped authorized emergency vehicle or road assistance vehicle…”
Read the entire statute here: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=60-6,378
In addition to physical injuries, the ripple effect from an accident like this can include many legal ramifications. The deputy whose cruiser was struck could file a workers’ compensation claim for injuries as a result of the crash.
Even the passenger that was injured as a result of the negligence of the driver of the car that rear-ended the cruiser can file a claim against the driver. In this situation, the passenger should seek professional legal help in filing their claim.
Additional information about the crash can be found in this KETV news article.
Please everyone, when you see emergency or road crews on the side of the road, Give ‘Em a Brake! And move over a lane whenever possible. Let’s be safe out there…
KETV-News-accident-on-I80