Driver Fleeing Police Facing Multiple Charges After Culver City Collision That Injured Brandon Mendez and 7 Other Pedestrians
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA (August 10, 2026) – A 19-year-old pedestrian identified as Brandon Mendez was seriously injured in a Culver City car accident near Braddock Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard.
Culver City police are saying that the accident occurred on June 16. Brandon Mendez was on his lunch break when he was struck by a car that was fleeing from police.
He was reportedly one of eight pedestrians who were injured in what many are calling a violent rampage. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help all of the victims.
Brandon Mendez was transported to the hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. He was treated for internal bleeding, spinal fractures, cerebral fractures, and other internal injuries.
The driver involved in the collision is facing multiple charges related to the incident, including attempted murder. You can help support the family of the victim through GoFundMe.
Liability for Culver City Car Accidents
Every person operating a motor vehicle in California has a duty of care to operate their vehicle in a safe manner under Civil Code section 1714. Drivers must slow down and take other evasive maneuvers when encountering any pedestrian in the roadway. A driver that fails to slow down to avoid colliding with any pedestrian could be held civilly liable for the collision under a negligence claim. Police officers are also required to take certain actions to avoid endangering the public by engaging in a pursuit.
- Limit Pursuits: Pursuits can be incredibly dangerous and should only be used as a measure of last resort to apprehend suspects that pose a significant danger to the public.
- Reassess: Police officers should continuously reassess whether or not a police pursuit should continue, particularly if officers are traveling through dense pedestrian areas.
- Lights and Sirens: Police officers should alert the public of the pursuit to the best of their ability by engaging their lights and sirens.
- Radio Communication: Police officers should maintain radio communication with a supervisor who is able to terminate the pursuit if need be.
Liability for any police pursuit accident could extend to police officers in certain circumstances. Consider, for example, Ramirez v. City of Gardena. A passenger in a pickup truck died in a motor vehicle collision involving a car being pursued by police. In that case, the California Supreme Court held that a police department could be liable for a collision if they failed to require officers to certify in writing that they received and understood their department’s policies related to police pursuits.
Steps to Take After Culver City Police Pursuit Accidents
Police pursuits are one of the most dangerous actions that officers engage in. They result in many innocent bystanders being seriously injured or killed each year. According to data from the California Highway Patrol, there were 13,627 police pursuits in California in 2023. These pursuits resulted in an estimated 2593 crashes. Those crashes resulted in 473 uninvolved third-parties being injured and 13 fatalities. It is important that several actions are taken after any police pursuit.
- All of the medical records related to the pursuit should be collected.
- All of the communication between pursuing officers and their supervisors should be scrutinized.
- Body camera footage from the officers involved should also be carefully considered.
- The circumstances leading up to the pursuit should be well understood.
Police pursuits should not be used to apprehend people that are only suspected of minor crimes. Unfortunately, many police officers choose to engage in dangerous pursuits that jeopardize the public. When police departments review these pursuits and accidents that they cause, they will inevitably come to the conclusion that their officers did nothing wrong. This is why it’s so important for accident victims to carefully consider their options with an independent legal team.
Getting Legal Help After Culver City Police Pursuits
We at Carrazco Law extend our best wishes to Brandon Mendez as he continues to recover. It is our sincere hope that the other victims will also be able to make a full recovery. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into this collision for the sake of all affected.
Have you or a loved one been injured during a police pursuit in California? You may be entitled to financial compensation. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys is here to support you. We are committed to helping accident victims get the medical and financial assistance that they need to move forward with their lives. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of support, we may be able to help you. You can contact us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
