Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Blog

In the Illinois House, representatives have passed a bill known as “Bachman’s Law.” The legislation mandates that police officers activates their sirens and lights any time they are driving faster than the legal speed limit when they are on the job.

The bill was proposed following a deadly Illinois car crash involving a speeding police officer that claimed the lives of 21-year-old Aaron Bachman and 15-year-old DJ Bachman. The two brothers died in 2006 when the vehicle they were riding in was struck by a police car that was headed to a domestic disturbance call.

Prosecutors say Winnebago Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Boomer was driving at over 100 mph. Boomer admitted during his testimony at his criminal trial that he did not have his sirens or lights activated. The jury found Boomer not guilty.

Motor Vehicle Accidents Caused by Speeding Police Cars
Even when a police officer is rushing to an emergency call or engaged in a high speed police chase, he or she must still drive responsibly and safely so that a motor vehicle crash doesn’t occur.

In 2006, the city of Chicago spent seven million dollars to settle Illinois car accident lawsuits filed by people injured in police car accidents. Six million of these dollars went to two cases alone for police pursuits in 2001 and 2003 that led to injuries.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about one person a day dies in US police pursuits. About 1 in 3 police pursuits results in a motor vehicle crashes, and thousands of people (motorists, pedestrians, other bystanders, and suspects) end up getting hurt.

House passes law inspired by deadly crash involving police, WREX, March 25, 2009

City spends millions on cop car accidents, Medill Reports, June 5, 2007

Related Web Resource:
Bachman's Law, WIFR.com, August 8, 2008