Here’s What You Need to Know About Filing an Insurance Claim After an Ambulance Accident
Did you know that nearly 60% of ambulance accidents happen during an emergency?
According to a report by the NHTSA, there are approximately 6,500 accidents involving ambulances annually, with an average of 2,600 people injured. Anytime you’re involved in a car accident, it is a monumentally stressful experience, but when you’re injured by an emergency vehicle, the situation grows more complex.
If you or a loved one has experienced a vehicle accident involving an ambulance, it’s crucial to have a Houston ambulance accident lawyer on your side to guide you through the process of filing an insurance claim and to help you better understand your rights under Texas law. Accidents involving emergency vehicles can be complex due to the involvement of emergency medical services and special legal considerations for emergency responders.
Crashes involving emergency vehicles—especially those caused by an ambulance driver rushing to a scene—can lead to serious injuries for everyone involved. Whether it’s a car accident with a civilian vehicle or another emergency unit, understanding your legal options is essential. An experienced attorney can ensure that your claim is handled fairly and that you receive the compensation you deserve.
How Do Ambulance Accidents Happen?
Ambulances play a critical role in emergency response, and therefore, they are entitled to operate under a unique set of rules:
- They tend to drive at very high speeds to save lives.
- Ambulance drivers have the right to use lights and sirens to navigate more easily and efficiently through traffic
- While they can do what they need to do to save a life, they still have a responsibility to drive safely and follow basic traffic laws
These factors, and more, can complicate assessing liability in many emergency vehicle accidents. Was the ambulance driver responding to an emergency? Did they properly use their lights and sirens? These questions are crucial, as they can significantly impact your insurance claim and the overall understanding of ambulance crashes.
In fact, 45.7% of fatal emergency vehicle crashes occur during emergency response, and 28% happen when lights and sirens are active. Emergency vehicle drivers face unique challenges that increase the risk of collisions, such as navigating busy intersections and dealing with unpredictable driver behavior. Ambulance hits involving other emergency vehicles or civilian vehicles often result in serious consequences.
Emergency medical workers and emergency responders are at a higher crash risk compared to other first responders like law enforcement and firefighters. If you’re involved in a car accident caused by an ambulance or if you wonder what happens if an ambulance hits your vehicle, understanding the factors behind these incidents is key to pursuing justice and fair compensation.
What Do I Do After an Ambulance Accident?
If you’ve been hit in an ambulance accident, take the following steps immediately after the incident to prioritize your health and help your potential insurance claim:
- Prioritize Your Safety: Check everyone involved in the ambulance accident for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately for emergency medical assistance. Your injuries may not feel serious at the moment due to the shock from the incident, but it is crucial to get checked over by a medical professional as soon as possible.
- Document Your Evidence: If it’s safe to do so, and your injuries aren’t too severe, try to take photos of the accident scene, including the ambulance, your vehicle, and any visible injuries. This evidence will be extremely valuable if you choose to file an insurance claim.
- Gather Contact and Insurance Information: Exchange contact and insurance information with the ambulance crew and any other people involved in the ambulance accident – including any witness statements you can get.
- File a Police Report: You want to have an official police report on record for all of the details surrounding the incident. Make sure you request a copy of the report for your own records if you need it to file a claim.
- Contact a Trusted Personal Injury Attorney: Cases involving emergency vehicles are very complex and require expert knowledge of Texas law, so it’s crucial to consult with a skilled personal injury attorney right after the accident.
Navigating a Complex Insurance Claim After an Ambulance Accident
If you are wondering, “Can I file an insurance claim when the accident involves an ambulance?” the answer is a resounding “Yes”. No matter what type of accident you’ve been in, you are entitled to file an insurance claim. The only problem is that ambulance vehicle accidents have a unique set of restrictions that can be challenging to navigate.
Here’s what you may be able to recover with the help of a personal injury attorney:
- Full medical expenses for any injuries sustained in the ambulance accident
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Lost wages if your injuries stopped you from working
- Compensation for your pain and suffering
Legal Representation is the Key to Increasing Your Ambulance Accident Compensation
Please remember, filing a personal injury claim involving ambulance crashes can be more complex than a standard car crash claim. These cases often involve emergency services, ambulance service providers, and sometimes government entities, as well as specific traffic laws related to emergency vehicle accidents. For example, determining fault can be challenging if flashing lights and sirens were active or if the incident involved other emergency vehicles such as police cars or fire trucks.
Understanding what happens if an ambulance hits you and navigating the legal process requires expertise. With such incidents, a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can make a significant difference. They can gather key evidence, such as accident reports and medical records, to help determine how the crash happened and who was liable. In cases involving emergency responders and emergency drivers, determining liability may also involve reviewing whether the other vehicle followed proper procedures to yield.
Experienced car accident attorneys will also handle demanding negotiations with insurance companies that often try to minimize payouts for personal injury cases. Whether you’re facing high medical bills or unclear liability, your attorney can fight for a fair settlement. If the insurer refuses to provide a fair offer, your attorney can take your case to court to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Most importantly, many firms offer a free consultation to guide you through your options and help you seek justice and financial recovery.
Partner With Angel Reyes & Associates to Recover from Your Ambulance Accident
If you’ve been in an ambulance accident in Texas, you don’t have to navigate these difficult times on your own. At , we are wholeheartedly committed to protecting your rights and helping you seek the compensation you deserve for the pain you’ve endured.
Call today for a free confidential consultation to take legal action. Our compassionate team of personal injury attorneys will listen to your story, answer all your questions, and offer a shoulder to cry on and clear guidance on your legal options. Your voice deserves to be heard.
Don’t wait – time is of the essence in these cases due to specific deadlines for insurance claims against government entities. Stop by one of our offices.
