Woman Injured After LAPD Cruiser Runs Her Over on Venice Beach

A woman is recovering from injuries sustained after being struck by a Los Angeles Police Department cruiser on Venice Beach. According to a KTLA news report, the incident occurred on September 7, 2017 near Windward Avenue and the Venice Beach Boardwalk. The vehicle hit the woman as she was reportedly sunbathing. A police report was filed and the woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Incident Captured on Video

A man at the scene who witnessed the incident said the woman was lying on the sand sunbathing and the police cruiser “just ran her over.” Videos shot by eyewitnesses shows the woman being transported to an area hospital with bruises and scratches on her arms and back. The officer who hit the woman is on full active duty in Venice, LAPD officials said. Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department are shown in the witness video attempting to stop filming of the accident. An officer with the fire department told KTLA that the “incident was dealt with administratively.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with this injured victim and we hope she recovers quickly and fully from her injuries. We are relieved that she was not severely injured in this incident.

Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it appears that the woman was accidentally run over by the police cruiser. However, it is unclear as to how the officer failed to see the woman sunbathing on the sand. Was the officer distracted? What caused him to drive the cruiser on the beach? Was he responding to some type of emergency? Did he sound the siren or turn on the lights to alert people on the beach? We trust the department is looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

In this particular case, the injured victim can seek compensation for her injuries and losses from the at-fault or negligent officer and his employer, the police department. It is indeed fortunate that there were eyewitnesses who not only saw the incident, but recorded it on their cell phones. Such evidence could be invaluable during the personal injury claims process.

Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities and pain and suffering. Victims in such cases would also be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. It is important to remember that injury claims involving government entities must be filed within 180 days of the incident or injury.