Louisiana Ambulance Accident Attorneys
Baton Rouge Law Firm Helping Victims of Emergency Vehicle Crashes
Thousands of emergency vehicles in Louisiana transport patients to emergency rooms every day. Because of this state of emergency, ambulance drivers often feel the need to speed down the road and practice dangerous driving. Although wanting to get to the destination quickly may be understandable, these emergency vehicle drivers are putting their passengers and other drivers on the road at serious risk.
Lights flash and loud warning sounds emit from the vehicles as they drive, but at high velocities, engaging in quick maneuvers, and being heavy in nature, ambulances are susceptible to potentially life-threatening accidents—especially if the driver is distracted, poorly trained, or drunk. As a patient in the back or a fellow paramedic in the ambulance, passengers have a reasonable expectation of arriving at the hospital or destination safely. When drivers of emergency vehicles fail to take safety measures, and you or a loved one is injured as a result, you have the right to hold them responsible and receive compensation.
Contact a Louisiana ambulance accident attorney today. Your consultation is free and private: (888) 493-1629.
Record-Setting Accident Compensation
We at Arnold & Itkin have direct experience defending victims in these kinds of cases. For one of our clients, a young mother, we recovered $117 million for her and her young family. This was the largest single-plaintiff verdict in the history of the state of Louisiana. Our client was 7 months pregnant and began experiencing stomach pains. When she called emergency services, an ambulance driver was assigned to our client who had vision problems and a bad driving record. On the way to the hospital, the driver crashed the ambulance into a truck.
Among other injuries, our client became permanently paralyzed and prematurely gave birth to her daughter. When we received her verdict, her medical bills had already totaled $1.4 million and were going to reach an estimated $30 million in her future medical care. We were successful in holding the insurance company responsible for all of her physical and emotional damages, providing a record-setting verdict for our client.
The Different Ways an Ambulance Accident Can Harm Others
Emergency medical technicians, or EMTs, are expected to do more than one job. While they are trained in field-level medical tasks, they are also required to operate the motor vehicle safely and efficiently. Although they have both of these simultaneous responsibilities, the safety of the passengers inside the ambulance and other drivers on the road should be the top priority.
Passengers and other drivers can be injured by an ambulance driver if:
- The ambulance has a mechanical failure (loss of brakes)
- The driver is inattentive or distracted from the road
- The patient is improperly secured
- The objects in the ambulance are improperly secured
Here are a few examples of circumstances that could cause an ambulance accident:
- An ambulance driver who fails to put on the siren when leaving the scene of an accident.
- An ambulance driver who does not take proper caution when proceeding through an intersection.
- A motorist who is texting while driving and collides with an ambulance.
- Ambulance brakes that fail because they had manufacturing defects.
- A drunk driver who rear-ends an ambulance because he’s following too closely.
- A driver who is speeding and T-bones an ambulance that’s traveling through an intersection.
- A broken traffic light that leads to a collision between an ambulance and a pedestrian.
- A fatigued ambulance driver who strikes a cyclist in a bike path.
Paramedics are human and subject to the same inattentiveness, distraction, or neglect that other drivers sometimes demonstrate, but because they are trained professionals, they are held to a higher standard. Ambulance drivers should always have their passengers' well-being in mind while making decisions, as well as the well-being of other drivers. Additionally, the desire to accomplish a task quickly should never compromise the level of safety with which that task is done. When EMTs don't keep patients and those around them safe—and people get hurt—those victims deserve compensation for the injustice and injuries they have suffered.
Louisiana Ambulance Accident FAQ
Who can be held responsible for an ambulance accident in Louisiana?
Legal responsibility for an ambulance accident will fall with whichever person or company caused it to occur. Sometimes, more than one party can be responsible. An investigation of the accident will reveal its contributing factors, which will in turn expose fault. For example, take a Baton Rouge ambulance accident that leaves the patient in the back of the ambulance and the occupants of another vehicle with serious injuries. An investigation into the collision reveals that the ambulance driver was looking at his phone instead of the road. He then ran a red light and struck another vehicle head-on. In this case, the ambulance driver clearly caused the collision. He and the company he works for may be held responsible for all the victims’ medical bills, lost earnings, and more.
What are some potential causes of ambulance crashes?
Like any traffic accident, an ambulance accident may be caused by driver negligence, defective auto or ambulance parts, or roadway hazards. Distraction and these other forms of negligence can be particularly dangerous with ambulances because they travel at high speeds in emergency situations, carry injured or ill passengers, and must work their way through traffic. At Arnold & Itkin, we’re committed to helping victims of these collisions get the medical care and financial help they need to move on.
How do I know if I need a Louisiana ambulance accident lawyer?
If you were seriously injured, you should talk to a lawyer about your options. You are not required to hire a lawyer to handle your claim, but if you have medical bills that are piling up and cannot work to pay them, you will benefit from recovering fair and full compensation for your injuries. The same applies if you are experiencing delays or were offered a low settlement that doesn’t cover your losses. Talk to a lawyer who knows the ins and outs of ambulance accident claims. Talk to our team and find out what we can do to help you get your life back in order. We can handle everything while you focus on healing.
Get Started by Contacting Our Baton Rouge Ambulance Accident Lawyers
Arnold & Itkin is the team you can trust to fight for compensation because we have already won in cases involving ambulance accident victims. Understanding that every case is different, you can count on our Louisiana personal injury lawyers' expertise and client-focused approach to fight for your future.
Call Arnold & Itkin at (888) 493-1629 today to schedule your free and confidential evaluation.
