Mon - Sun: 24 hours.
Call Me Back
Menu
Mon - Sun: 24 hours.

Accidents With Emergency Services Vehicles

Get expert advice today with a free consultation.

100% No Win No Fee claims, in-house solicitors, decades of experience.
Claim the maximum compensation.

Accidents With Emergency Services Vehicles

If you have a claim, our experience pays.

100% No Win No Fee claims.
Specialist solicitors.
Decades of experience.
Claim maximum compensation.
Pay nothing if we lose.

Call 0800 6524 881 or…

Fill out the form and we’ll call you back.

* Any details submitted will only be used to deal with your request as explained in our privacy policy.

Emergency Vehicle Accident (Ambulance, Fire Engine, Police Car) Claims

As you may be aware, if youโ€™re injured in a Road Traffic Accident (RTA), you could claim compensation for any injuries if the accident was caused by somebody elseโ€™s negligence. Did you know, though, that the same is true for accidents with emergency services vehicles? If youโ€™re injured in a collision with a fire engine, police car, or ambulance and the other driver was to blame, you could Emergency Services Vehicleseek compensation. Itโ€™s even possible to start a claim if the emergency services vehicle had its lights flashing and sirens on.

Our personal injury team for RTA’s can help if you do decide to make a claim and will start with an advisor reviewing your case with you. Theyโ€™ll offer free advice on your options and, if there is a reasonable chance of winning your case, could connect you with one of our personal injury solicitors. If your case is accepted, your solicitor will work for you on a No Win No Fee basis.

If you’ve been hit by a police car, ambulance, fire engine, or lifeboat crew and want to begin an accident claim right away, simply call us on 0800 6524 881. Otherwise, please continue reading to learn more about the claims process.

Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For An Accident With An Emergency Vehicle?

While itโ€™s true that the emergency services play a vital role in society, itโ€™s also true that they arenโ€™t above the law. When responding to an emergency call, vehicles are allowed certain privileges. They can pass red lights and drive above the speed limit. However, they must still think about the safety of other road users and pedestrians. To be eligible to make a claim for an accident with an emergency vehicle, youโ€™ll need to show that:

  • An accident occurred because the other driver was negligent in some way; and
  • As a direct result of the accident, you sustained an injury.

As with any other type of RTA, you will need evidence to show who was responsible for the accident, how it happened, and the severity of your injuries.

Are Drivers Of Police Cars, Ambulances & Fire Engines Protected By The Law?

In short, no theyโ€™re not. Drivers of emergency services vehicles must follow the same rules of the road as you do. If they are involved in an accident, they could still be found liable even if driving in an emergency situation. The same also applies to coastguards and lifeboat crews.

When emergency vehicles are being driven without sirens or flashing lights, the driver must stop at red lights and drive within the speed limits. In emergencies, they can essentially break those rules but only in a way that doesnโ€™t put other road users in danger.

If a driver of an emergency services vehicle causes an accident through dangerous, reckless, or careless driving, any injured parties could claim compensation for their injuries.

Do Motorists Need To Take Action When They See An Emergency Vehicle?

If you notice an emergency services vehicle with its lights flashing, you should try to move out of its way if you can do so safely. This might involve pulling over to the side of the road or changing lanes.

If you donโ€™t take evasive action, and a collision occurs, it may be argued that you were partially responsible for the accident. In this scenario, you could still claim but your compensation might be reduced accordingly. This is known as contributory negligence. If any person deliberately obstructs the emergency services, they could be prosecuted under The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006.

If youโ€™d like to check whether youโ€™re eligible to seek damages, please call an advisor.

Evidence To Support An Accident Claim

There are several pieces of evidence that you could supply that can help if you do decide to seek damages. Some evidence will be available at the time of the accident, others can be requested later on. While this process might seem time-consuming, it could certainly improve your chances of being awarded the maximum compensation. The evidence you could use includes:

  • Dash cam footage. Many police cars, ambulances, and fire engines use dash cams these days. They will usually provide more information than any camera you might have in your car. If your accident is captured on an emergency vehicle’s camera, you can request a copy of the footage.
  • Witness details. If it is unclear who was liable for your accident, witnesses could be contacted by your solicitor for a statement.
  • Other driverโ€™s details. As you would in any other type of road collision, take as many details as possible from the driver of the other vehicle. Ask to get their badge number, name, contact number, insurance details, and vehicle registration number.
  • Photos. Itโ€™s always a good idea to get your phone out when safe to do so and take pictures of the accident scene. Try to take any photos before anything has been moved.
  • Medical records. Itโ€™s important to get any injuries treated properly. After treatment at A&E, your GP surgery, or a minor injuries unit for whiplash and back pain, you could ask for a copy of your medical records. These could be used as evidence to prove the severity of your injuries.

When youโ€™ve got as much evidence as you can obtain, go ahead call our team on 0800 6524 881. Weโ€™ll review everything with you and explain your options for free.

Common Injuries In RTA’s

As each accident is completely different, thereโ€™s no definitive list of injuries that could result from a road traffic accident. However, here are some common injuries that might be claimed for:

Importantly, low-value whiplash claims (less than ยฃ5,000) can now be claimed for through a new government portal. It would not be cost-effective for us to help with these claims. However, putting a value on your claim can be quite tricky. Therefore, weโ€™d suggest you speak to one of our advisors and theyโ€™ll point you in the right direction.

How Much Compensation For Being Hit By An Emergency Services Vehicle Could I Claim?

If you claim compensation for being hit by a police car, ambulance, fire engine, or any other vehicle, the settlement amount will generally be based on:

  • General damages. This covers the pain and suffering youโ€™ve endured. Also, you can claim for loss of amenity too. Loss of amenity’s explained here.
  • Special damages. Here youโ€™ll claim for any costs linked to the accident and your injuries. For example, you might want to claim back any care or medical costs. Additionally, you could claim back any income youโ€™ve lost as well.

A medical assessment may be required for your compensation claim. Our solicitors can usually arrange these with a local independent medical expert.

Accident Claim Time Limits

Generally, an accident claim involving an emergency services vehicle must be made within 3-years of the accident, or from when your injury was diagnosed. One exception to this rule is where a child is injured. In that scenario, you can use the litigation friend process where a suitable person, for example, a parent/guardian, can claim at any point before the child turns 18-years old. Alternatively, if no claim has been made, once the child reaches 18 and they’re able to do so, they’ll then have 3-years to claim themselves.

Our advice is to start your claim swiftly. One reason for that is that, if liability is admitted, your solicitor could ask for private medical care to be paid for. Another is that youโ€™ll give your solicitor plenty of time to gather evidence to support your case.

How Solicitors Can Help With Emergency Vehicle Accident Claims

To make a successful compensation claim, you’ll need to clearly demonstrate a) how your accident occurred, b) who caused it and c) the extent of your injuries. If you canโ€™t convince the defendantโ€™s insurer that their client was responsible, you might not be compensated, or youโ€™ll be paid too little.

Personal injury solicitors, in our opinion, improve the chances of winning your case. If one of our solicitors agrees to work on your case, they will:

  • Go through everything with you so they fully understand how youโ€™ve suffered.
  • Collect evidence.
  • Arrange for medical reports.
  • Communicate with the defendant on your behalf.
  • Provide regular updates.
  • Answer any queries, arguments, or objections, and provide additional evidence where necessary.
  • Attempt to secure the largest amount of compensation possible.

Before accepting any settlement offer, theyโ€™ll review it with you. If it doesnโ€™t seem a fair amount, your solicitor could go back and negotiate for more on your behalf.

If you are now thinking of starting a compensation claim for an accident with an emergency vehicle, please call us on 0800 6524 881 to begin. A No Win No Fee solicitor could begin working for you right away.

error: Content is protected !!