Part of being a responsible driver is making sure that you pay attention to what is going on around your vehicle at all times. One of the big things you must pay attention for is an emergency vehicle.
When these vehicles, including police cars, ambulances and fire trucks, are on the way to a call, they will often run with lights flashing and sirens blaring. Upon seeing these, drivers are expected to give the right of way to the emergency vehicle, regardless of who would have the right of way in another case. Failure to give the right of way to these vehicles can lead to serious accidents. One recent case in New Jersey serves as a reminder about paying attention to emergency vehicles.
The accident happened in Lyndhurst when a 20-year-old driver failed to give the right of way to an ambulance. The ambulance was going to a call when it needed to go through an intersection. The emergency vehicle had its lights flashing and siren blaring as it went through the intersection. The driver didn’t heed those warnings and T-boned the ambulance.
The car accident damaged at least four cars and injured five people. The ambulance didn’t have a patient at the time, but one of the EMTs had to be removed by being pulled out of the window because the vehicle was laying on its side.
Those who were hurt in this accident have the right to seek compensation for their injuries. Knowing how to do so in New Jersey is the first step in trying to minimize the impact the accident has on their finances.
Source: WABC, “Ambulance involved in accident in Lyndhurst, New Jersey” No author given, May. 19, 2014