If you’re hit by an ambulance or fire truck in Colorado, you may still have a claim. Emergency vehicles can speed and go through red lights, but their drivers still have to drive safely. If the vehicle belongs to a government entity, special rules and a short notice deadline apply, so act quickly.
After you or a loved one gets hit by an emergency vehicle in Colorado, you’ll be in shock, yet you’ll need to act fast to get yourself out of danger (and get the information you need for your case).
There will be a lot going on. And, unfortunately, the fact that you were hit by an ambulance or fire truck poses specific legal challenges. In Colorado, emergency vehicles may have certain privileges under the law, especially if they were responding to an emergency when your crash happened. This doesn’t mean you don’t have rights or avenues to compensation.
Emergency Vehicle Operation and Injury Claims
To do their job effectively, Colorado’s emergency vehicles do enjoy certain exemptions from the law. When responding to an emergency with lights or sirens on, emergency vehicles may exceed the speed limit if it does not endanger people or property, and may go through a red light after slowing down as needed. Just because the operators of emergency vehicles have these rights doesn’t mean they’re not required to drive their vehicles safely. If a privately operated ambulance causes a crash, you may be able to recover by proving the driver was careless. If the vehicle belongs to a government agency, the agency is usually immune when the driver was responding to an emergency with lights or sirens on and following the emergency driving rules.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by an ambulance or fire truck, take the following steps:
- Get medical help. Your health is your #1 priority!
- Start your medical record. This should happen automatically when you get emergency care. It will also be important for your claim.
- Make sure the crash gets reported to the police.
- Document the crash. Take photographs of the scene, get witness contact information, and write down your account of what happened in a dated file.
- Write down anything that identifies the vehicle and its operator, such as the unit number, the agency or company name on the vehicle, and the driver’s name if you can get it.
Then, as soon as you’re safe or in recovery, talk to a Colorado personal injury attorney.
Identify the Operator
Some ambulances and fire trucks are run by cities, counties, fire districts or public hospitals. Others are run by private companies. Who operated the vehicle matters, because claims against a public entity follow Colorado’s Governmental Immunity Act and its own deadlines.
Government-Owned vs. Privately Operated Vehicles
While you may be able to seek compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical expenses, the road to your payout may not be simple. This is especially the case when you’re dealing with government entities. You may face specific legal hurdles, like immunity provisions and very short deadlines. For example, you must give written notice of your claim to the public entity within 182 days after you discover your injury, or you may lose the right to sue.
To learn more, read Colorado Governmental Immunity and Injury Lawsuits.
Related Reading
- What to Do After a Car Crash in Colorado: 9 Steps
- How Is Fault Determined After a Colorado Car Crash?
Call Greer Law Group After an Emergency Vehicle Crash
If you were seriously or permanently injured, Greer Law Group can help you with the legal complexities of a claim against government entities and emergency services. It’s hard, so don’t go it alone! Fill out our brief contact form or give us a call at 303-331-6460.
