Did a Fire Truck Hit Your Car?
The Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine reports that there are more than 2,000 preventable fire truck crashes in the United States every year. About 1,100 injuries and deaths result from those catastrophic crashes. The U.S. Fire Administration is a federal agency that oversees safety for the firefighting industry. It reports that motor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of death for firefighters. If you’ve been hit by a fire truck, 
contact us for a 100% free consultation to evaluate your liability claim and discuss what to do after a fire truck accident.
What Happens If A Fire Truck Hits You?
If a fire truck hits you, you may be entitled to compensation, and you will want to contact one of our nearby qualified fire truck accident lawyers right away. Like police officers who drive squad cars, firefighters driving fire trucks aren’t infallible. Although they’re trained in how to operate their vehicles, accidents indeed occur that are the fault of fire truck drivers. If you were injured in an accident that was wholly or partly caused by the driver of a fire truck, you can pursue a settlement to cover your damages, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost income. Your dedicated fire truck accident attorney would have to prove that there was a driver error. Here’s how having an experienced and skilled attorney on your side after a fire truck accident can make all the difference:
Notice of Claim
Pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Governmental Tort Immunity Act, you’re required to give the City of Philadelphia written notice of a claim for personal injuries within six months of the occurrence that your claim you were injured. This is mandatory. Failure to file a timely notice of a personal injury claim is almost always cause for permanent dismissal of any personal injury lawsuit. Aside from the notice requirement, you have two years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit. Understanding the statute of limitations and filing deadline is critical to protecting your rights. There are a few exceptions to the claim notice deadline and time frame for filing a personal injury lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia.
You don’t want pretrial motions targeted at the content and timing of your claim notice and personal injury lawsuit. If we’re retained to represent you, we’ll properly draft and timely serve all necessary documents on your behalf and investigate the accident to document all evidence needed for your case. If you believe that a fire truck hit your car and was the cause of the accident you were injured in, contact us right away to arrange for a free consultation and case review. Our attorneys will evaluate your municipal vehicle accident and explain who pays for damages, how much your case is worth, and whether you need a lawyer to pursue maximum compensation.
Stay Away From Them
Fire trucks are allowed to ignore many traffic laws when they’re en route to an emergency, but they’re required to exercise due care and caution for other vehicles on the road. Ladder trucks can be as long as a tractor-trailer and weigh in excess of 90,000 pounds. They have massive blind spots all the way around them, so it’s difficult for them to see other vehicles, motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians around them. When operating in the narrow streets of Philadelphia, they present a clear danger to anybody around them. From a public safety perspective, these emergency vehicles require immediate and urgent attention from all motorists.
Common Causes of Fire Truck Accidents
Given the fact that fire trucks are permitted to ignore many traffic laws when they’re responding to an emergency, other drivers must be prepared to react to them on the roadway. Failure to properly react by both fire truck operators and private motorists significantly increases the chances of an accident. Here are some of the common causes of fire truck crashes and intersection accidents:
- Failing to yield the right-of-way when a fire truck approaches with flashing lights and a siren or horn sounding, a common traffic violation that can result in severe or fatal collisions.
- Unsecured equipment, like hoses, ladders, or other equipment falling off of a fire truck and causing accidents that result in property damage and significant injuries.
- Failure to follow rules. Regardless of the fact that an emergency might exist, fire truck drivers must still stop at traffic signals and stop signs in order to ensure their safe passage through an intersection. When responsible drivers fail to exercise caution, they may be liable for the resulting emergency vehicle accident.
Real Fire Truck Hit My Car Examples and What Drivers Can Learn
Given the sheer size of Philadelphia, PA, it has had its own serious fire truck crashes over recent years. Here are some fire truck accident examples:
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- In November 2015, the driver of a ladder truck apparently lost control of the vehicle and struck four parked cars on 55th Street and Baltimore Avenue. At least two of the cars were utterly demolished. Five firefighters were injured in the crash. This complex first responder collision demonstrates how even trained emergency personnel can be involved in negligent accidents.
- In December 2017, another ladder truck was in a head-on collision with a car. A second car was also involved. Both cars had extensive damage to their fronts. At least one person was taken from the scene by paramedics. These types of government vehicle crashes often result in substantial medical expenses and require aggressive legal representation.
- In yet a third ladder truck crash in 2016, the fire truck was broadsided by an SUV in the Center City District while it was responding to a call. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this crash. The SUV sustained extensive front-end damage. Even when injuries aren’t severe, victims can still pursue an insurance claim for property damage and seek a fair settlement.
Contact a Philadelphia Fire Truck Accident Lawyer Near You
Contact us for a 100% free consultation. If you have been harmed in a car accident that was caused by a fire truck, our experienced and compassionate team of Philadelphia-based truck accident lawyers can assist you in recovering the compensation you deserve to ensure that medical care is not out of reach or unaffordable. We also want to ensure that lost wages are not missed forever, and other aspects of your life can be reversed to allow you to live as normal a life as possible. Our attorneys will fight to secure full recovery for economic damages, non-economic damages, and future damages related to your injuries.
There is nothing worse than being burdened with a mountain of medical bills and the worry of paying attorney fees. Because of this, we offer our No Win No Fee Guarantee on a contingency fee basis with no obligation. If we do not obtain funds for you, you do not have to pay anything to us. In order to assist you in filing your claim, we advance all associated costs. The process is completely risk-free, and there are no upfront costs and no legal fees unless we are successful. Our trusted and reputable law firm will negotiate settlements with government agencies, litigate your case if necessary, and defend your right to compensation throughout the entire claim process. Contact us today for a free case consultation to learn more about your options and what we can do to fight for your right to compensation in a fire truck hit my car settlement. Our dedicated attorneys provide personalized service, handle all insurance claims, and work to maximize client compensation while you focus on recovery.
