In July 2020, WSAZ News reported that an ambulance driver fell asleep at the wheel while driving in Scioto County, causing an ambulance rollover crash that injured two people. Unfortunately, accidents like this one involving ambulances occur all too frequently — and most ambulance accidents do not make the news. Accidents involving ambulettes, which transport patients on a non-emergency basis, also occur frequently and are underreported. In many cases, patients are dropped and seriously injured while being transferred to or from the ambulette. Ambulettes are also frequently involved in motor vehicle accidents causing serious injury or death to the patients. Many of those injury victims are unaware that they are entitled to financial compensation for medical bills, lost income, physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
If you are injured in a collision involving an ambulance or ambulette or are struck by an ambulance as a pedestrian or bicyclist, you may be able to seek compensation in a personal injury claim. GB Law is a Columbus personal injury law firm that represents victims of ambulance accidents, including drivers and passengers in other vehicles, as well as motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Our dedicated attorneys have recovered more than $200 million for victims of serious injuries in Ohio. We also represent ambulance drivers and emergency personnel who are injured in traffic collisions while responding to calls. Contact us at 614-810-8806 to discuss your potential case with a personal injury attorney at our office.
Causes of Ohio Ambulance Accidents
Being involved in a collision with an ambulance can be extremely dangerous because emergency vehicles are larger than passenger vehicles and are often traveling at a high rate of speed. Collisions at intersections are common when vehicles are quickly changing direction, which may not allow for braking or slowing before a collision.
Emergency responders and ambulette drivers have a difficult job and work hard to protect the community, sometimes making quick actions and split-second decisions. State laws, including those in Ohio, provide broad immunity for EMS personnel. However, when ambulance drivers are making non-emergency transports, which do not involve overhead lights or sirens, they must honor all traffic regulations, including operating at speeds safe for weather conditions. Common causes of accidents involving ambulances in Ohio involve:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Lack of driver training
- Failure to activate lights and/or sirens when required
- Speeding
- Unsafely crossing intersections
Many accidents involving ambulances occur because drivers were not complying with mandated restrictions or operating requirements they were trained to follow. When an ambulance driver causes an accident, the ambulance company may be liable for victims’ damages, such as medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Before you accept an insurance company offer for an accident, speak to a knowledgeable and experienced Ohio personal injury lawyer to determine if the ambulance company or any other third parties may be liable for your injuries.
Ambulance Accident Statistics
Limited information is available about crashes involving emergency vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, in 2018, 168 people were killed in crashes involving emergency vehicles. Of these fatalities, 47 involved ambulances, 107 involved police cars, and 14 involved fire trucks. Accidents involving injuries occur much more frequently than fatality accidents. Serious injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating.
Contact GB Law for a Free Consultation
Although a personal injury claim cannot undo the pain of a serious injury, it can hold a negligent party accountable, and allow you to receive the best medical care and not be financially impacted by your injuries. When you contact GB Law about your Ohio ambulance accident, our award-winning Columbus personal injury lawyers will fully review your legal options, answer your questions, and provide an experienced-based opinion of your potential case. Your initial case evaluation with a lawyer is always free. If we represent you in our claim, we will not charge any legal fees unless we recover money for you.