A Cleveland 19 News investigation reported that on January 15, 2025, an ambulance driver drove through a red light and plowed through the passenger side of a Dodge Charger in Garfield Heights, Ohio. The accident victim was treated for minor injuries, but his car was totaled. Despite evidence that the ambulance driver is at-fault, the city’s insurance company told the victim they were not liable for any damages.
Unfortunately, accidents like this one involving ambulances occur all too frequently—and most ambulance accidents don’t make the news when the driver is at-fault.
Accidents involving ambulettes, which transport patients on a non-emergency basis, happen frequently, but 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.
A lot of 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.
And our attorneys can help.
Contact the dedicated attorneys at GB Law today.
What Happens If an Ambulance Hits Your Car
Being involved in a collision with an ambulance can be extremely dangerous because emergency vehicles are larger than passenger vehicles. They’re also typically traveling at higher speeds than common traffic.
Collisions at intersections are common when vehicles quickly change direction. This may not give you or other drivers time to brake or slow down 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.
However, when emergency vehicle drivers are making non-emergency transports, which don’t use flashing lights and sirens, they have to abide by all traffic laws and regulations, including following the speed limit, stop signs, and red lights.
Who Is Liable When An Ambulance Driver Causes a Car Accident?
Qualified immunity laws, including those in Ohio, provide broad immunity for EMS personnel, shielding them from liability. This makes it difficult to ensure these drivers, paramedics, and other government entities are held liable when they act negligently.
When an ambulance driver causes an accident, the ambulance company or their insurance company may be liable for victims’ damages, such as medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
Before you accept an insurance company’s 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. Call 614-222-4444 today.
Common Causes of Accidents Involving Emergency Vehicles
Common causes of accidents involving ambulances in Ohio include:
- 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.
Ambulance Accident Statistics
Unfortunately, Ohio doesn’t have a lot of data regarding crashes involving emergency vehicles.
According to the National Safety Council, in 2023, 198 people were killed in crashes involving emergency vehicles.
Of these fatalities, 134 involved police cars, 32 involved ambulances, and 32 involved fire trucks.
Accidents involving injuries occur much more frequently than fatal accidents.
Serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones, can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating.
Why Hire Our Ambulance Accident Attorneys?
GB Law is a Columbus personal injury law firm that represents victims of ambulance accidents. This can include drivers and passengers in other vehicles, as well as motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
We also have experience representing ambulance drivers and emergency personnel who’ve been injured in traffic collisions while responding to calls.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys have recovered more than $200 million for victims of serious injuries in Ohio.
Contact us at 614-222-4444 to discuss your potential case with a personal injury attorney at our office.
Contact Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
Although a personal injury claim can’t undo the pain of a serious injury, it can hold a negligent party accountable. It can also help 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 personal injury 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.