Fire Truck Accidents

Fire Truck accidents are becoming an increasing occurrence in many cities across the country.  Fire Trucks, a special truck license class of emergency vehicle, are a common scene as they race through traffic.  With flashing lights and loud sirens, they are responding to our calls for help.  When responding to emergencies, the feeling of urgency felt by the operators of these fire trucks may result in recklessness, miscalculations, or misjudgment and that can lead to fire truck crashes.

Emergency vehicles in addition to fire trucks include:

• Fire Rescue Vehicles
  
• EMT Ambulances
  
• Police Cruisers

In many cities, the rise in fire truck accidents has raised concerns leading to new guidelines for the drivers of these emergency vehicles. Even with these guidelines, other factors can contribute to unwanted fire truck accidents such as:

• Speeding: Speeding may sometimes be required to save lives as fire trucks respond to emergency fire calls. Because delays, in these circumstances, may endanger many lives, fire truck drivers are always in a hurry to get to the emergency, often driving above the speed limit. Although fire truck drivers may drive over the regular speed limits when responding to an emergency fire, they still must follow certain rules of the road such as stopping at traffic signals and stop signs. If a fire truck accident occurs because they did not fully stop at light signals or stop signs, the driver could be found negligent.
• Other Vehicles or People Not Yielding the Right of Way: When the general population such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-emergency drivers do not understand emergency requirements and do not yield the right of way to the fire vehicles, accidents can occur. Even though there are laws governing how the road should be shared with emergency vehicles, motorists may still not yield to a fire truck rushing to an emergency. This may be due to increased traffic in our cities, better sound proofing in cars, or even confusion on the part of the public as to what they should do.
• Unsecured Fire Truck Equipment: Loaded with long ladders, hoses, and water pipes, fire trucks accidents can occur when such equipment is not properly secured.

One of the main goals of a fire truck accident lawyer is to discover who is the negligent party. The fire truck driver, a city fire department, a volunteer fire unit, and even a fire fighters' union might be identified as contributing to the fire truck accident. Pursuing the fire truck accident litigation requires an experienced lawyer since the cases can be quite complex. At Gordon & Elias, L.L.P. we will aggressively pursue your case so that you receive the compensation you deserve. Fill out the form above or give us a call.

Emergency vehicles are larger, heavier, and usually travel at greater speeds than motor vehicles driven by the general public.  When fire truck accidents do occur, the result is serious damage to private property, severe injuries, or even a fatal truck crash.  It is important that we be mindful of these emergency service vehicles because disregard of traffic rules by their drivers can lead to serious or fatal injuries to anyone caught in their path.

After the death of a 26-year-old emergency medical technician (EMT), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) implemented stricter guidelines for emergency vehicle workers. The EMT died of blunt force trauma to the head and chest when the ambulance she was in was struck head-on by a pickup truck. The driver of the pickup truck also died from fatal injuries suffered from the truck car crash.

NIOSH recommendations to improve emergency vehicle employee safety include:

• Emergency service workers should use the patient compartment vehicle occupant restraints whenever possible
• Ambulances should be equipped with patient cots that include upper body restraints
• Drivers and front-seat passengers of emergency service vehicles should use the vehicle occupant restraints provided

Have you or someone you know been involved in a fire truck accident? If so, contact one of our experienced fire truck accident attorneys at Gordon & Elias, L.L.P. Call toll free at 800 - 773 - 6770 to discuss your legal options.

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Have you or someone you know been involved in a fire truck accident? Contact one of our experienced truck / bus accident lawyers from the law offices of Gordon & Elias, L.L.P. by calling TOLL FREE: 800 - 773 - 6770 or fill out the form above.