Usually police cruisers are called to the scene of an accident after it has occurred. There are times however when police cars are actually involved in crashes they would otherwise be called to assist with. A Pittsburgh police cruiser was involved in one such accident the end of last month in the Knoxville neighborhood.

According to the police department, the officer driving the vehicle was responding to a call when the accident occurred. As the cruiser entered the intersection of Mathews Avenue and Grape Street, it hit a minivan along its side. Police report that though he did not stop at the intersection's stop sign, at the time of the collision, the driver of the police cruiser had both his siren and lights on.

A passenger in the minivan the cruiser hit disputes this story. The passenger claims that the officer driving the car only turned on the siren and lights after the accident. The incident is being investigated by the police.

As a result of the accident the person driving the minivan was injured. The individual was transported to a local hospital to be treated for symptoms of a concussion. It is unclear whether anyone else was injured in the crash.

Depending on the severity of the driver's injuries, a personal injury lawsuit may be forthcoming. Such a suit aims to provide compensation for expenses incurred as a result of negligence on the part of another person. Expenses incurred may include medical bills and lost wages. If one is considering filing a personal injury claim, it is a good idea to do so in a timely manner.

Source: WTAE, "Knoxville Crash Sends 1 To Hospital," Dec. 26, 2011