Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles play vital roles in Fort Worth, Texas, racing to aid in emergencies on a moment’s notice. Due to the urgency of the situations emergency vehicles face, they must act quickly and navigate busy streets in a hurry. This combination of factors can increase the chance of an accident. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident with a fire truck or other emergency vehicle in Fort Worth, you could have a right to seek financial compensation.
Accidents involving emergency vehicles can be tricky to understand, as special rules might apply when the emergency vehicle is operated by a municipality or corporation. An experienced Fort Worth car accident lawyer can investigate your accident, help you navigate the insurance process, and manage your personal injury claim.
Reach out to Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation to learn more. You can contact us online or call (817) 294-1900 for more help.
How Anderson Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Emergency Vehicle Accident in Fort Worth, TX
Our team at Anderson Injury Lawyers will investigate the facts and circumstances of your accident and ensure that you have every opportunity for compensation.
A lawyer’s evaluation will include assessing the accident scene, identifying liable parties, and collecting evidence that will prove your claim.
We will work hard to:
- Obtain police and accident reports
- Locate physical evidence
- Identify witnesses to the crash
- Determine if the emergency vehicle driver violated any protocols or traffic laws
- Hire accident reconstruction experts when needed
- Negotiate a settlement with insurance companies
- Hire expert witnesses to support your claim
- File a personal injury lawsuit in court whenever necessary
- Take your case to trial if necessary
Our dedicated Fort Worth personal injury attorneys have secured millions in financial compensation for injured victims. Call us today to learn more about how we can help you after a serious accident.
How Do Emergency Vehicle Accidents Happen?
Emergency vehicles and fire trucks are required to respond quickly to emergency situations. This usually means driving through city streets at high speeds.
Common causes of accidents with emergency vehicles include:
- Distracted driving while responding to the situation or handling equipment
- Excessive speed (beyond what is required to respond to a call)
- Failure to follow protocols for an emergency vehicle
- Failure of other drivers to yield to emergency vehicles
- Driver fatigue due to long shifts
- Inadequate training for emergency vehicle drivers
- Mechanical defects and equipment failures
If you were involved in an accident with an emergency vehicle, significant effort will be needed to find out how the crash happened and who is responsible. An experienced emergency vehicle accident attorney can handle the legal work for you as you focus on your recovery.
What Damages Are Available to Victims of an Accident with an Emergency Vehicle?
In Fort Worth, Texas, car accident victims can obtain economic and non-economic damages caused by an emergency vehicle accident.
Economic damages are the “dollars and cents” losses stemming from an accident. Medical bills are the most common example. Other economic damages can include lost income due to injuries from an accident, out-of-pocket expenses due to travel for appointments, rehab costs, and other unexpected financial losses.
Non-economic damages are the losses that are harder to quantify after an accident. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship with a loved one, and reduced quality of life are all examples of non-economic damages in a personal injury claim. An accident can leave victims with long-lasting physical and psychological injuries. The “intangible” costs of an accident can be addressed as non-economic damages by an experienced vehicle accident lawyer.
Proving Liability in an Emergency Vehicle Accident Case
Many car accident claims are fairly simple when they involve two standard vehicles. When fire trucks and emergency vehicles are involved in a crash, proving liability can be more complicated. Emergency vehicles operate under special circumstances, so it can take extra steps to prove negligence and liability.
After an emergency vehicle accident, legal liability could be assigned to:
- The driver of the emergency vehicle, if their conduct was reckless or negligent. For example, the driver can be legally responsible if they were speeding excessively or failing to follow safety protocols.
- The driver’s employer, most often a government agency or department. If the accident was caused by poor training, lack of supervision, improper vehicle maintenance, or similar factors, the employer can be found liable.
- Other drivers involved in the accident, if their actions contributed to the emergency vehicle’s accident.
To determine who was at fault and prove liability, your lawyer will need to make a detailed investigation. Sometimes, experts are needed to reconstruct the accident and show how it happened. Not all attorneys know what steps to take in these investigations. An experienced emergency vehicle accident attorney will be able to guide you through the process.
Contact an Attorney if You’ve Been in a Crash with a Fire Truck or Other Emergency Vehicle
Fire trucks and emergency vehicles are ever present on roadways in Fort Worth, Texas. Unfortunately, due to the urgency they travel with, emergency vehicles can be involved in accidents. If you were injured in an accident with a fire truck or emergency vehicle, you could seek financial compensation in a personal injury claim. Contact Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a Fort Worth truck accident attorney.