An emergency vehicle has some leeway when it comes to traffic laws, but the driver of such a vehicle still has to act responsibly. If you believe that you were injured in an accident due to the negligence of an emergency vehicle driver, you may be owed compensation. Depending on who owns this vehicle, a personal injury case against them can get complicated. Our Washington, D.C. car accident lawyers are ready to help you.
Can You Sue When an Emergency Vehicle Hits You?
An emergency vehicle and its driver can be immune to lawsuits in certain situations. If they had their lights on and were on their way to an emergency, for example, it could be argued that you were supposed to make way for them as they passed.
You can sue if you can show that the driver was negligent or irresponsible. An emergency vehicle that ignores traffic laws while its lights and sirens are off can easily cause an accident. A driver who drives while drunk, drowsy, or distracted can also cause serious crashes and injuries.
What Should I Do After an Accident With an Emergency Vehicle?
You should treat this like any other accident. Your actions immediately following the crash can help you protect yourself and build a stronger personal injury case. We recommend that you:
- Get all involved vehicles moved somewhere safe
- Take photos of the scene, damage to the vehicles, and your injuries
- Call the police so that they can make a report
- Exchange information with other drivers
- Talk to witnesses and get their contact info
- Avoid making statements that could be seen as you admitting guilt
How Long Do I Have to Take Legal Action?
Now here is a potential complication. If the emergency vehicle is privately owned, you have up to three years to sue for damages, at least in Washington, D.C.. However, it’s more likely that a government entity owns the vehicle that hit you. That means that you have to first submit a notice of claim, informing the government of your intent to sue.
You do not have a lot of time to do this. The government must receive your notice of claim within six months, and any mistake on your claim could cause delays. You need to act quickly so that you do not lose your chance to pursue compensation. Also keep in mind that if your accident happened in nearby states, like Virginia and Maryland, that your deadline for making a claim could be different!
How Can a Lawyer Help Me?
A lawyer can help you figure out how to pursue damages whether the defendant is a private citizen or a government entity. They can also make sure that your paperwork is filled out correctly so that there are no unnecessary delays that can jeopardize your chance of claiming compensation.
Schedule Your Consultation
If you have been injured in an accident involving an emergency vehicle, you may have options. Contact Trombly & Singer, PLLC to schedule your complimentary case evaluation. Every case is different, so we want to hear about yours and help you figure out the next steps.
