A man who was shot in the hand by a Jersey City cop three years ago will receive $26,500 in a legal settlement with Jersey City approved tonight by the City Council.

Joshua Lopez drove his car at a police officer during a traffic stop in February 2009, causing the officer to shoot at the car, striking Lopez in the hand, police reports said at the time.

Lopez’s attorney called the claims of self-defense “highly questionable” at a 2009 court appearance.

City attorneys recommended the settlement “because of the litigation risk involved,” according to the resolution approving the settlement.

The officer pulled in front of a car driven by Lopez on Feb. 15, 2009 because the car was illegally parked on Linden Avenue East near Route 169, police said at the time.

When the officer approached the car, Lopez backed up, pulled out and drove at the uniformed officer, trapping him against the marked police cruiser, officials said then.

The officer then fired four bullets, striking Lopez once in the hand, according to police.

Lopez, who lived in Kearny at the time of the incident, sped away from the scene, ending up in an Elizabeth hospital, where he told police he was the victim of a carjacking. officials said.