What You Need To Know About Ambulance Accidents 

If you are in an ambulance, you are probably already having a horrible day. Unfortunately, things can worsen. While ambulances are emergency response vehicles, they are also commercial vehicles and are prone to accidents like any other truck or car on the road. If you have been involved in an accident, click here for help

Medical transfers play a crucial role in ensuring timely and safe transportation of patients between healthcare facilities, providing essential care and support during critical moments of their medical journey.

How do ambulance accidents occur? 

Ambulances break many traffic laws as they rush to the hospital. Although other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists are expected to yield the right of way whenever an emergency vehicle’s lights and sirens are activated, it is not always done. 

Even in a hurry and operating in emergencies, ambulance personnel have a duty of care to people around and inside their vehicles. They must continually anticipate threats and adapt their behavior and speed to the conditions around them. Countless accidents occur when an ambulance passes through a red light or an ambulance driver fails to anticipate intoxicated driving. 

How likely are you to encounter emergency responders? 

When someone is hurt in an ambulance accident, who is to blame? Is it the paramedic who is driving the ambulance or the driver of the other vehicle? Accidents involving ambulances can be complicated, and proving fault can be challenging. Nonetheless, there is an etiquette that every driver should be aware of when driving around emergency vehicles. Police officers, ambulance drivers, and other emergency vehicles must operate on clear streets to respond to situations promptly and efficiently. 

They will be coming up behind you in some cases; in others, they will be barreling toward you, crossing over a double yellow line or even a grass median because their lane is too jammed. When you see red and blue lights and sirens, you may need to move quickly, especially if you drive fast. 

Stop if you are unclear about what to do when you see or hear an emergency vehicle. Those who decide to continue driving are not only being inconsiderate, but they are also blocking possible routes for emergency responders. Furthermore, if they have an accident, it will only add to the already overburdened emergency workers. 

Consequences of ambulance accidents 

Ambulance accidents are often fatal, causing injuries to EMTs, patients, and bystanders. Injuries can be devastating and can result in wrongful death claims. 

Do not suffer in silence if you are hurt or lose a loved one in an ambulance accident. Third-party drivers, the ambulance driver, the corporation that maintains the ambulance, and even the machine manufacturer may be held liable.