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Emergency vehicles are supposed to render aid to the injured, not cause injuries themselves. Yet each year police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, and paramedics, as they respond to an emergency, cause serious personal injuries and death to those along the way. If you or a loved has been involved in an accident with an emergency vehicle in or around San Mateo County, California, contact a San Mateo personal injury lawyer at Danko Meredith Trial Lawyers. We go up against cities, states, or major corporations in pursuit of accountability and the fair compensation they owe to our clients.
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Emergency vehicles end up in accidents for many of the same reasons that other drivers end up in accidents: driver negligence, distracted driving, vehicle code violations, or dangerous roadways or intersections. Most often, however, emergency vehicles cause accidents because their drivers abuse their authority to exceed the speed limit, enter intersections without first ensuring it is safe to do so, or change lanes, pass or drive against the traffic in a hazardous fashion. Sometimes drivers fail to use lights and sirens in appropriate situations, and sometimes use lights and sirens when there is no reason to do so. Regardless of the circumstances of the emergency being responded to, the emergency vehicle must always exercise due care for the safety of the public
It’s up to your attorney to uncover the evidence showing that, in responding to a call, the driver of the emergency vehicle failed to exercise the degree of care for the public that the law requires. Presenting that evidence in a clear and understandable fashion is what leads to compensation for those harmed in a collision with an emergency vehicle. Those damages can include:
A judge or jury may also order punitive damages as a way of punishing the emergency vehicle driver or other defendants for abusing their special authority to violate certain traffic laws. The total amount of a settlement or judgment award could provide for the victim’s financial stability and peace of mind, especially where the injuries suffered are catastrophic. Hiring an attorney can optimize your odds of success.
If you have been injured in a collision involving an emergency vehicle in or around San Mateo county, contact our attorneys for a free consultation. We will hear your story, review the facts of your accident, and let you know if we think you have a case. If we accept your case, we will immediately go to work battling for fair compensation for you and your family. Call (650) 453-3600 to speak directly to a San Mateo emergency vehicle accident lawyer.