Ambulances are critical to deal with medical emergencies in New York and throughout the United States. Ambulance accidents, however, can have devastating consequences for everyone involved. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a motor vehicle accident involving an ambulance, you need to reach out to a seasoned Syracuse ambulance accident attorney who can help you secure full and fair compensation for your injuries.
According to a 20-year National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, there was an average of 4,500 crashes involving ambulances throughout the United States each year. In fact, the data highlight that 33 people across the nation die annually in these crashes. While one-fourth of those fatalities are inside the ambulance at the time of the crash, in the majority of fatal crashes involving ambulances, the driver or passenger of another vehicle is the one who is killed.
We can help victims of ambulance accidents in a variety of different scenarios, including but not limited to:
- Pedestrians or bicyclists hit by ambulances;
- Drivers and passengers of vehicles hit by an ambulance; and
- Transported patients suffering exacerbated injuries in a crash.
Ambulances have special exemptions from following the rules of the road, since they are trying to reach a medical emergency as quickly as possible. For example, ambulances do not have to follow the posted speed limit or stop at a red light. Just because ambulance drivers have this discretion, however, does not mean they can simply barrel through the streets without regard to others on the road. At all times, ambulance drivers must operate the ambulance in a safe manner.
An ambulance accident can have a number of causes, such as ambulance driver negligence, the negligence of other motorists, and ambulance provider negligence. Negligence takes place when a person fails to use the level of care and caution required of that person, thereby causing injuries or death to another person. For instance, an ambulance driver must drive in the same way that a reasonably prudent ambulance driver would drive in the same situation. As a result, an ambulance driver will be liable if the jury finds that the ambulance driver’s conduct deviated from what a reasonably prudent ambulance driver would have done under the same circumstances.
If you can establish liability in an ambulance accident case, you may be able to recover a variety of compensation to deal with your injuries. Common examples of damages include medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, physical pain, disfigurement, mental anguish, pain and suffering, costs of future care, and any other losses stemming from the accident.
Ambulance accidents can lead to serious or catastrophic injuries. In some cases, these accidents can result in death. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in an accident involving an ambulance, you should reach out to a skilled Syracuse auto accident attorney who can help protect your rights. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand how to handle even the most complex ambulance accident cases. You can rest assured that we can provide you with reliable legal representation at every step of the way. To learn more, call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us online.
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Plastic Surgery Malpractice in Syracuse and Across New York, Syracuse Personal Injury Blog, January 30, 2018