Ambulances and other emergency services don’t have to follow road rules when responding to an accident, within reason.

Emergency vehicles like ambulances can bypass traffic rules when responding to calls. While drivers must yield, pinpointing sirens and lights is often challenging. Emergency vehicles may also appear suddenly without warning signals, catching drivers off guard. 

Always check your surroundings before changing lanes or turning, as an emergency vehicle could be approaching from any direction.

If your car gets hit by an ambulance, you may have rights. Read on to learn more about liability in ambulance accidents, how to seek compensation, and how a Chicago personal injury attorney from our team can help you through the legal process.

Liability in car accidents involving an ambulance

Determining Liability in Ambulance Accidents

If an ambulance crashes into your car, liability will be a critical factor in your case, despite their role in providing emergency services.

Emergency Vehicle Privilege

Ambulances or other emergency vehicles, like fire trucks, have privileges when on an active call. While their lights and sirens are on, they don’t have to adhere to the rules of the road, including:

  • Stopping at red lights and stop signs
  • Listening to speed limits
  • Driving on the right side of the road
  • Turning on traffic lights
  • Parking in no-park zone or traffic

These privileges allow emergency vehicles to respond to accidents as quickly as possible. It’s called sovereign immunity, and it protects the government and, by extension, the driver from being sued if a vehicle accident happens.  

However, the emergency vehicle privilege has limitations. Emergency drivers can’t just drive recklessly while putting others’ lives at risk. 

Negligence on the Part of the Emergency Vehicle Drivers

Ambulance drivers could be found negligent in a car crash, even with emergency vehicle privileges. Below are examples of behavior that could lead to negligence and liability.

If the ambulance driver was not exercising caution, driving recklessly, or acting negligently, they could be liable for a car accident. You can hold them and the government accountable for the accident.

Contributory Negligence

A common defense in personal injury cases is contributory negligence. Contributory negligence means that the other party may try to prevent you from trying to recover compensation if you were also partially responsible for your injuries.

It can affect liability in car accidents, especially with ambulances. The defendant may try to insinuate that you didn’t take reasonable care of your safety by yielding the right of way. That failure was partially to blame for whatever injuries you sustained during the car accident. 

They can also argue that you could have reasonably foreseen the harm thanks to the lights and sirens, but you chose not to yield to them.

Contributory negligence isn’t available in every jurisdiction, so you’ll want to consult a legal professional to understand your rights. They can help you determine the best action to recover compensation for your injuries.

Seeking Compensation for Car Accidents With Emergency Vehicles

As you’re seeking compensation for crashes involving emergency vehicles, you’ll want to remember the following recommendations. 

Personal Injury Claims Against Emergency Responders

Victims of emergency vehicle accidents may be able to file a personal injury claim against emergency responders. If the emergency responders were negligent during the accident, their immunity won’t apply. 

You could recover compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. If their immunity does not apply, emergency vehicle crashes can be treated like a traditional personal injury case. 

However, depending on the accident’s circumstances, there may be a steep burden of proof to remove emergency vehicle privileges. These types of accidents are legally complex and complicated, and it’s best to obtain representation to help you navigate them.

Government Liability

Ambulances can be publicly or privately owned. If you get in an accident with publicly owned emergency vehicles, the government could be liable if the driver is found negligent. 

The ambulance driver acts as a government representative when providing emergency medical services. Even with immunity from some traffic laws in times of crisis, they must still take reasonable measures to ensure the care of other drivers. 

If they are driving negligently, you could recover compensation from the government. There are caps on how much you can recover from the government, so check your local regulations to understand these limitations. 

Insurance Coverage

Government agencies carry liability insurance to cover potential damages caused by their emergency vehicles, including ambulances. This insurance can provide compensation if an ambulance driver is found at fault in an accident. 

The insurance adjusters may try to deny claims, offer low payouts, or shift the blame. They want to minimize how much the company has to pay, so they will do their best to uphold the immunity. 

Accidents involving emergency vehicles are complex. Car accident attorneys not only help you navigate interactions with insurance companies, but they can also help you understand your rights, recommend a legal course of action, and help you recover maximum compensation for your troubles.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Any car accident can be stressful, let alone with an emergency responder. A personal injury attorney can help you pursue legal action and recover compensation for your harm.

Legal Expertise

Many extenuating circumstances are in play in car accident cases involving emergency vehicles, including sovereign immunity and a high burden of proof to prove negligence. Ambulances are legally allowed to disregard traffic laws, while you need to give them the right away. 

Lawyers deeply understand all the factors at play during an ambulance accident. They can help:

  • Investigate your claim
  • Secure medical records
  • Obtain your police report
  • Interview witnesses
  • Interact with insurance 

They use these factors to build your case and recommend the proper action. Your lawyer will guide you throughout the process, providing support as you seek justice for your injuries.

Negotiation Skills

Once they’ve determined fault, your lawyer will do their best to secure a fair settlement. They will examine the actual and intangible costs you incurred due to the accident and recommend a minimum and maximum settlement.

Unlike insurance companies, lawyers start high. They want to get you the maximum compensation they can. Through negotiations with the other party, they will either agree out of court or go to a civil trial.  

Advocacy

Emergency vehicle drivers are well protected within the legal system, but if they were at fault for the accident, they deserve to be held accountable for their actions. Lawyers have a responsibility to advocate for victim’s rights. They understand the physical and emotional trauma that a car accident can cause, and they do their best to help you seek justice.

An experienced attorney understands the tricks insurance companies play and will defend you against them. They stand firm to help you recover maximum compensation for your car accident. 

Book a Free Case Review with Expert Legal Counsel

Emergency vehicle accidents are incredibly complex, thanks to sovereign immunity. However, there are circumstances where they may not apply. If you have been a victim of ambulance accidents, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you understand your legal options. Our experienced legal team will help you seek justice and secure maximum compensation.

Call (888) 424-5757 or fill out our contact form to book a free consultation with a Chicago car accident attorney.