Top 3 Highest Paramedic and Ambulance Accident Payouts in Los Angeles (What They Mean for Your Case)

The flashing lights and blaring siren of an approaching ambulance signal a life-or-death emergency. We are all taught to pull over and clear the way. But what happens when that emergency vehicle causes a devastating crash? For those injured, the aftermath is not just physically and emotionally traumatic—it is also legally complex.

Claims involving ambulances or paramedic units can be against government agencies like the LAFD or private transport companies. While no two cases are the same, examining significant legal settlements can help victims understand what drives case value and the critical importance of taking the right steps to protect their legal rights. These large payouts are not random; they reflect catastrophic injuries and clear evidence of negligence.

1. The $9.5 Million Settlement for a Dangerous Intersection Crash

While not involving an ambulance directly, a $9.5 million settlement approved by the Los Angeles City Council in April 2024 offers a powerful lesson in municipal liability.¹ A woman was severely injured when another driver ran a red light at a Hollywood Hills intersection where the city had installed a poorly placed temporary traffic signal. The driver who caused the crash stated they didn’t see the light until it was too late. The injured woman, who required neck surgery, successfully argued that the city’s “improperly and dangerously designed” intersection was a primary cause of her injuries.

This case is highly relevant to ambulance accidents. It shows that the city can be held responsible not just for a driver’s actions, but for the dangerous conditions of its roads and traffic control systems. In an ambulance crash, this could involve poorly timed lights, obstructed views, or faulty traffic signal preemption systems (like Opticom) that are supposed to clear a path for emergency vehicles. This settlement underscores that a multi-million-dollar recovery is possible when a government entity’s negligence contributes to a catastrophic injury.

2. The Trend: Soaring City Payouts for Vehicle Collisions

Context is crucial. While a specific LAFD ambulance payout may be confidential, we can look at the city’s overall liability for vehicle accidents to understand the potential scale. A recent Los Angeles Times investigation found that the city has paid over $90 million in the last decade for accidents caused by its police officers.²

This trend of rising multi-million-dollar payouts for vehicle collisions involving on-duty city employees establishes an important benchmark. It shows that the city and its attorneys will agree to massive settlements when faced with clear evidence of negligence and severe, life-altering injuries. The same legal principles apply whether the vehicle is a police car or an LAFD ambulance. It proves that the city can and will be held financially responsible for the harm its drivers cause.

3. The Private Ambulance Benchmark: Six- and Seven-Figure Settlements

Accidents involving private ambulance companies (like AMR or McCormick) follow a different legal path than claims against the government, but the potential for a significant recovery is just as real. While many of these settlements are confidential, published case results from across the country provide a valuable benchmark.

For example, one firm secured a $412,500 settlement for an elderly woman injured in a crash with a private ambulance.³ While this case was from another state, it illustrates that even in a less severe injury scenario, private carriers face significant exposure. For catastrophic injuries involving paralysis or traumatic brain injury, settlements and verdicts can easily run into the millions. These cases show that private ambulance companies and their insurance carriers can be held accountable for the negligence of their drivers.

What Drives the Value of an Ambulance Accident Case?

The largest payouts are reserved for cases with a specific combination of factors:

• Severity of Injuries: The most critical factor is the human toll. Cases involving permanent disability, traumatic brain injury, paralysis, or wrongful death will have the highest value.
• “Due Regard” and Emergency Privileges: Under California law, an ambulance driver can only disregard traffic laws (run a red light, speed) if they have their lights and siren active and drive with “due regard” for the safety of others. If they fail to do so, they are negligent.
• Code 3 vs. Routine Transport: Was the ambulance racing to a true emergency (“Code 3”), or was it on a non-emergency patient transfer? The standard of care is much higher during routine transport.
• Clear Evidence of Negligence: Powerful evidence like GPS data showing excessive speed, AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) logs, EDR (“black box”) data, and in-cab video can provide irrefutable proof of fault.
• Policy Violations: Fire departments and private companies have detailed policies for emergency driving. Proving the driver violated these internal rules is compelling evidence of negligence.
• Economic Damages: The total of all past and future medical bills, lost income, and future care costs forms the financial basis for the settlement.

How to File a Claim: Government vs. Private Entities

The path to compensation is different depending on who owns the ambulance.

• Government Claims (LAFD, County Fire): You must file a formal Government Claim within six months of the accident. This is a strict, unforgiving deadline. Your attorney will identify the correct entity (City of L.A., County of L.A., etc.), file the claim, and then file a lawsuit after it is inevitably rejected.
• Private Ambulance Claims: The six-month deadline does not apply. You would file a standard personal injury lawsuit against the private company, typically within two years of the accident.

In either case, your legal team will immediately work to secure critical evidence, including dispatch logs, 911 audio, GPS data, traffic preemption logs, and maintenance records for the ambulance.

What to Do Immediately After an Ambulance Crash

1. Seek Immediate Medical Care: Your health is the number one priority. This also creates a crucial record of your injuries.
2. Get an Incident Number: Ensure law enforcement creates a report and get the incident number.
3. Document the Scene: If possible, take photos of the vehicles, the intersection, and any visible injuries. Get contact information for witnesses.
4. Do Not Give a Recorded Statement: Never speak to an investigator or insurance adjuster without your lawyer. They are trained to get you to say things that will damage your claim.
5. Contact an Attorney Immediately: The short government deadline and the speed at which evidence disappears make it vital to call an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do ambulances need to have both lights and a siren on?
To have the legal privilege to disregard traffic laws, yes. California Vehicle Code generally requires both a siren and at least one forward-facing red warning light.

2. Can I recover money if I was partially at fault?
Yes. California is a “comparative fault” state. This means your total recovery is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.

3. What is the difference between suing a public vs. a private ambulance company?
The biggest difference is the mandatory six-month Government Claim deadline for public entities like the LAFD. Private companies are sued directly within the standard two-year statute of limitations.

4. Can I use my own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage?
Yes. If the government agency’s self-insurance or the private company’s policy is not enough to cover all your damages, you can make a claim against your own UIM policy.

5. How long will my case take?
These are complex cases. Claims against government entities, in particular, can take one to three years, or sometimes longer, to resolve but the sooner you call us the sooner we can get started. Our goal is always to get you the most money possible as quickly as possible.

6. Do I have to pay any fees to hire a lawyer?
No. At Walch Law, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing out-of-pocket, and we only receive a fee if we win your case.

Injured by an Ambulance? Let Our Family Help Yours.

If you or a loved one has been harmed in a collision with an ambulance, you need an advocate who understands these unique and challenging cases. The family at Walch Law has been fighting for injured Californians for over 45 years. We know how to navigate the Government Claims Act and how to hold both public agencies and private companies accountable.

Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. Let us handle the legal fight so you can focus on your recovery. 1-844-999-5342

Footnotes

1. Dakota Smith, “L.A. to pay $9.5 million to settle lawsuit over ‘dangerously designed’ intersection,” Los Angeles Times, Apr. 9, 2024. ↩
2. Libor Jany and Vanessa Martínez, “When police are bad drivers: LAPD crashes kill — and payouts soar past $90 million,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 12, 2025. ↩
3. Meyers & Flowers, “$412,500 Settlement for Victim Injured in Ambulance Crash,” meyers-flowers.com, accessed Oct. 15, 2025. ↩