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 include:

• Fire Trucks
  
• Fire Rescue Vehicles
  
• EMT Ambulances
  
• Police Cruisers

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

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 in your area today!

Updated: KE

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Have you or someone you know been involved in a fire truck accident? If so, contact one of our experienced truck accident lawyers in your area today!