Been In An Accident Involving An Emergency Vehicle? Here's What To Do

Being involved in any kind of accident can be scary. However, that daunting experience can be exacerbated tenfold if you are involved in an accident with an emergency vehicle. Not only can it be intimidating, but it can also be frustrating as many will assume that it is automatically your fault and not the fault of the emergency responder.
If you have been in an accident involving an emergency vehicle, here's what you need to do:

Stay Calm

The first thing you need to do after a car accident is to stay as calm as possible. Treat the accident like any other car accident, and do not assume it was your fault. Human error is a factor at play even when the other driver is an emergency responder.

Gather Information

Also, like with any other accident, you want to gather the other driver's contact information. Get their ID or badge number along with any numbers or other information on their vehicle. Take pictures of both vehicles and the scene, and contact your insurance company and personal injury attorney right away.

A union or the local government may protect emergency responders. So to get fair compensation, you need the help of an attorney, or else you may be blamed for something that is not even your fault. Your attorney can help ensure that you are treated fairly and that you get everything you are entitled to following the accident.

Claims For Emergency Vehicle Accidents

Florida statutes use phrases like "as necessary for safe operation" and "so long as the driver does not endanger life or property" when discussing provisions regarding these types of accidents. It can sometimes prove difficult to show who really was at fault for an accident. For this reason, you must gather as much evidence as possible, including witness statements, to help prove liability for your case.

Certain Driver Responsibilities

According to Florida law, drivers are required to pull over when they see and hear an emergency vehicle approaching them and heading in their direction. This is also true even if the vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction. If you can't safely pull over, you need to slow down to 20 mph or less to allow the emergency vehicle to pass.

However, this does not mean that emergency responders are without any responsibility. Certain precautions still need to be taken on their part as well, such as slowing down as they approach an intersection with a red light or slowing down at a stop sign. They also need to limit their speed so as not to endanger life or property.

Filing A Claim

If you were involved in this kind of accident, it is important to file your claim as soon as possible. However, you may also find it difficult to recover compensation. That is possible even if you can prove you did everything possible to get out of the emergency responder vehicle's way and after proving that the other driver did not take proper precautions.

That is why you need a skilled personal injury attorney on your side. They are highly knowledgeable about government agencies and other departments, along with the laws that govern them. With them, you can be confident when filing your claim.

If you have been involved in an accident with an emergency responder vehicle, do not hesitate to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to help with your case.