Most Common Scenarios of Getting Hit by an Ambulance in a Car Accident

When you see flashing lights and hear the wail of a siren, your first instinct is to pull over and clear a path. Ambulances and other emergency vehicles are given special privileges on the road for a critical reason: to save lives. Drivers are legally required to yield the right-of-way, and most do so without a second thought.

But what happens when the vehicle rushing to an emergency causes one? Collisions involving ambulances are surprisingly common, and they create a uniquely complicated legal situation for the victims. While an ambulance driver has the right to break certain traffic laws, they do not have a free pass to drive recklessly.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by an ambulance, you may feel confused and intimidated. You might wonder if you even have the right to file a claim. At Walch Law, we want to be clear: you do have rights. Understanding the common scenarios where these crashes occur is the first step in protecting them.

The Unique Dangers of Ambulance Collisions

Ambulances are large, heavy, and often traveling at high speeds. When they collide with a smaller passenger vehicle, the damage can be severe. The drivers are under immense pressure to reach their destination quickly, which can lead to aggressive driving that puts others at risk.

The legal framework surrounding these accidents is also complex. Because many ambulances are operated by government entities (like a city fire department) or private companies under contract with a hospital, determining liability is not as simple as in a standard two-car crash.

Common Scenarios Where Ambulances Cause Accidents

While every accident is different, most collisions involving ambulances fall into a few predictable categories. In these situations, the emergency vehicle’s driver may be found negligent, even if they were responding to a call.

1. Intersection Accidents: The Red Light Dilemma

This is the most frequent type of ambulance-involved crash. An ambulance driver approaches a red light with lights and sirens activated. They slow down, but believing traffic will stop for them, they proceed through the intersection against the signal. A driver with a green light, who either did not see or hear the ambulance, enters the intersection at the same time, resulting in a T-bone collision.

Liability issues: While the law allows an ambulance to proceed through a red light, it must be done with “due regard for the safety of all persons.” If the driver failed to slow down sufficiently or ensure the intersection was clear before entering, they can be held at fault. Distracted drivers, loud car stereos, and soundproof modern vehicles can all prevent a civilian from hearing the siren in time.

2. Failure to Use Lights and Sirens Properly

An ambulance driver’s special privileges are almost always contingent on the proper use of their audible siren and visual warning lights.

• “Running Silent”: Sometimes, a driver may be transporting a stable patient or returning from a call without their lights and sirens on. In these non-emergency situations, they must obey all standard traffic laws. An accident caused by them speeding or running a stop sign in this context is clear negligence.
• Improper Siren Use: In some cases, a driver might only activate their lights but not their siren, especially late at night in a residential area. This can make it nearly impossible for other drivers to be aware of their approach until it is too late.

3. Unsafe Lane Changes and Weaving

In a rush to get through traffic, an ambulance driver might weave aggressively between lanes or make sudden lane changes without adequate signaling or space. They may misjudge the speed of other vehicles or cut off a driver who has no safe place to move. This is particularly dangerous on crowded freeways like the 101 or I-405.

4. Rear-End Collisions

This scenario can happen in two ways. An ambulance may follow another vehicle too closely and fail to stop in time when traffic slows. Alternatively, a driver might panic when an ambulance approaches from behind and slam on their brakes, causing the ambulance to rear-end them. While the panicked driver may bear some fault, the ambulance driver still has a duty to maintain a safe following distance.

5. Accidents Involving Parked Ambulances

An ambulance parked on the side of a road at an emergency scene can create a significant hazard. If it is not positioned correctly or is blocking a lane of traffic without adequate warning (like cones or flares), another vehicle could collide with it, especially at night or in poor weather conditions.

Understanding Liability: Suing a Government Entity

One of the biggest hurdles in an ambulance accident case is determining who to sue. The ambulance could be owned by:

• A city or county fire department
• A private ambulance company (like AMR)
• A hospital
• A volunteer organization

If the ambulance is operated by a government entity, your case is subject to special rules under the California Tort Claims Act. You cannot simply file a lawsuit. First, you must file a formal “Government Claim” within six months of the accident. If you miss this strict deadline, you lose your right to sue forever.

Furthermore, government entities often have some level of immunity. However, this immunity does not apply when their employee acts with negligence. An experienced attorney knows how to navigate these complex rules to hold the responsible government body accountable.

How Walch Law Can Help You Fight Back

Being hit by an emergency vehicle is not just a car accident; it’s a collision with a complex system of laws, immunities, and powerful defendants. The operator’s insurance company will likely argue that you were at fault for failing to yield, even if their driver was reckless.

You need a law firm that knows how to handle these specific challenges.

• Immediate Investigation: We secure crucial evidence like the ambulance’s “black box” data (which records speed and braking), dispatch logs, and dashcam footage before it can be lost or destroyed.
• Navigating Government Claims: We ensure that all pre-lawsuit requirements, like the six-month government claim deadline, are met perfectly.
• Expert Analysis: We work with accident reconstruction experts who can analyze the crash scene and prove that the ambulance driver did not exercise “due regard” for safety. Their analysis can show the driver was going too fast for the conditions or failed to clear the intersection properly.
• Aggressive Negotiation: We build a powerful case that forces the city or private company to the negotiating table. We know what your claim is worth and will not let them devalue your suffering.

Contact Walch Law for a Free Consultation

If you were injured in an accident with an ambulance, do not assume you have no case. The driver and their employer have a duty to keep other road users safe, even in an emergency. If they failed in that duty, they can and should be held responsible for the harm they caused.

Let the experienced team at Walch Law review your case. We can help you understand your rights and the complex legal road ahead. We are committed to fighting for victims of negligence, no matter how powerful the opponent.

Contact Walch Law today for a free, confidential consultation. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain how we can help you seek the compensation you deserve. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. 1-844-999-5342