What Happens if You Hit a Fire Truck?

Fire truck accidents can be difficult to handle due to the nature of vehicles involved and their role in responding to emergencies. Whether you are handling insurance claims or recognizing potential liabilities, knowing what to undergo and expect during the legal process can help you take the right steps to resolve the situation effectively.

What Happens if You Get in an Accident with a Fire Truck?

If you get in an accident with a fire truck, you could be met with legal repercussions and penalties. Specific consequences will vary depending on:

• The factors involved
• Local regulations enforced
• Decisions made by law enforcement and the court

Going against regulations that are made to protect fire trucks can result in a traffic violation, meaning that you could be issued a citation. The fine will be determined based on the severity of your actions. In some cases, you may also receive points to your driver’s record. Having too many could lead to an increase in your insurance rate, and possibly a license suspension if you reach a certain limit.

Based on your driver’s history, you could also be given the option to participate in traffic school to have the violation dismissed, or to stop the points from being added in your driving record. However, going with this approach could cost you additional time and fees.

It is important to understand that such consequences will differ based on various circumstances. If you are unsure about the impact of a violation, you can consult with one of our legal representatives for guidance on your rights and responsibilities. You could also reach out to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for assistance.

What Happens if You Hit an Emergency Vehicle?

If you hit an emergency vehicle while it is on active duty, you can face legal repercussions for violating traffic regulations. For instance, the Move Over Law requires drivers to change lanes or significantly slow down from stationary vehicles that are passing by with flashing lights. Doing this will allow them to reach the requested destination quickly to assist those who need immediate emergency medical services.

Failing to do this can cause you to get fines, and in some cases, jail time. Your insurance rate will also increase if you are found at fault.

Emergency Vehicle Traffic Laws

Emergency vehicle laws are established to make sure responders and the public are safe. This minimizes the risks of accidents and delays when responding to urgent situations.

Let’s take a look at some of these rules:

• CVC 21806: Drivers will need to yield the right-of-way and pull over when an emergency vehicle has its sirens and lights on. 
• CVC 21655.5: Emergency vehicles are allowed to use carpool (HOV) lanes when responding to critical requests. But, other vehicles are typically restricted from using these lanes unless specifically indicated by other traffic signs or regulations.
• CVC 21655.7: Non-emergency vehicles cannot block emergency vehicle access lanes.
• CVC 21461.5: Emergency vehicles are permitted to go through a red light or stop sign when responding to calls. However, they will need to do this safely and with caution. Other drivers will need to yield to them.
• CVC 21954: Pedestrians are required to yield the right-of-way to vehicles when they are crossing at an intersection. But, they will need to move to the nearest safety zone if they see an oncoming emergency vehicle with its siren and flashing lights on.

Common Injuries in Fire Truck Accidents

Fire truck accidents can lead to severe outcomes due to the vehicle’s large size and weight. Injuries will vary depending on the intensity of the impact. Some common forms of bodily harm that may arise include the following:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Whiplash
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal injuries

After such an accident, you should ensure your safety by seeking immediate medical attention from a professional. If they encounter any notable issues, a diagnosis will be made, along with treatment plans to help with your recovery. However, it is important to note that the extent of care will differ depending on the severity of your injury.

How Often Do Fire Trucks Hit Cars?

A car accident with a fire truck has been reported as the second leading cause of death for on-duty firefighters. About 30,000 crashes happen each year, and lead to major consequences if the fire truck was traveling to provide emergency services.

Based on data from the United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), many firefighters failed to buckle their seatbelts while riding in a fire apparatus. This issue increases their risk of injury during a collision, particularly in rollover crashes. With such a large vehicle aggressively tipping over onto its side or roof, it can force firefighters to be ejected, leading to severe or fatal outcomes.

How Often Do Emergency Vehicles Crash?

Emergency vehicles play a significant role in responding to crises. But, many risks are associated with their operation. Back in 2022, about 224 fatalities occurred in crashes involving emergency vehicles. Other additional information about the death toll include the following:

• 50 percent were occupants of non-emergency vehicles
• Pedestrians accounted for 22 percent
• 16 percent involved emergency vehicle operators
• 8 percent were found to be emergency vehicle passengers

Most of these deaths (72 percent) happened in multi-vehicle crashes. However, when directly compared to crashes with other emergency vehicles, police cars contributed to the highest number of fatalities (149), followed by ambulances (40), and lastly, fire trucks (35).

In addition, a recent study also clarified the potential increase in crash risk when an ambulance is traveling with lights and sirens activated. Without having these on, the crash rate is 4.6 per 100,000 responses. But, it tends to increase to 5.5 when on. with that in mind, a crash risk will rise even more when a victim is being transported to a nearby hospital. Without the alerts, the crash risk is 7.0 per 100,000 transports, and with it is 16.5.

What to Do if You Hit a Fire Truck?

If you hit a fire truck, you should consider doing the following steps:

• Check for injuries or damages
• Move to a safe location
• Contact local authorities
• Exchange information with all parties involved
• Document the accident scene
• Seek medical attention to treat any wounds you sustained

If disputes arise for liability, you can consult with one of our legal representatives. We will investigate the situation to establish fault and collect evidence that could affect accountability. In addition, we will help provide relevant documentation to insurance companies and negotiate with them to ensure you do not accept unreasonable offers. 

Who Is Liable in a Fire Truck Accident?

Understanding liability in a fire truck accident can be difficult due to the involvement of government entities and certain types of legal protections presented. Usually car accidents are settled once the negligent party has been identified, and their insurance covers the costs of damages incurred. But, when a fire truck is involved, sovereign immunity laws will take into effect, likely protecting government entities from liability in certain cases.

For instance, sovereign immunity shields fire departments from accountability if they were actively responding to emergencies. This allows them to fulfill their duties without fear of litigation. However, immunity can be waived if the fire truck driver or department exhibited negligence while off-duty, like during leisure time.

In such a case, injured victims are entitled to file a claim. But, this process will be more formal and time sensitive compared to the standard one.

You will first need to submit a notice of claim within six months of the date of when the incident occurred. The agency will be given 45 days to respond once they have received your claim. They will review your submission and conduct an investigation, and if their findings support your allegations, a settlement will be attempted. But, if your claim gets denied, they will let you know in writing that you can take matters to court. And lastly, if no response is given within 45 days, you will be granted two years to sue the agency.

To determine liability, you will need to establish the elements of negligence:

• The defendant owed you a duty of care
• The defendant breached their duty of care
• The defendant’s reckless driving caused the accident
• You sustained losses, like medical bills and emotional distress, as a result

If your case is successful, you may be entitled to recover economic and non-economic damages. This includes:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Vehicle repairs
• Mental anguish
• Pain and suffering

Can the Fire Department Be Held Liable?

Under California Government Code 850.4, the fire department is usually not held liable for injuries caused by:

• Fire protection equipment
• Firefighting facilities
• Firefighting activities

However, there are a few exceptions. If the fire department or its workers were negligent, specifically beyond the scope of their duties, liability is possible. But this would depend on the circumstances involved. As mentioned in this particular regulation, accountability will arise in certain cases, especially if recklessness or other factors go against Vehicle Code rules. This is governed by a separate set of laws that can be found in Article 1, Section 170000 and following.

Get Legal Assistance for Emergency Vehicle Claims

If you were in an accident involving an emergency vehicle and need guidance, West Coast Trial Lawyers is here to help. Our team is available 24/7 to take a look at your situation and offer the support you need. With over 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases and a strong track record of delivering client satisfaction, we are confident that we will get you the best outcome possible.

To schedule a FREE consultation with an experienced accident lawyer, you can get in touch with us by calling (213) 927-3700 or completing our quick online contact form.