Fire truck accidents: they're more common than you'd think
Brandon J. Broderick, Personal Injury Attorney at Law
No one wakes up expecting to be in a car accident, much less an accident involving a fire truck. On New Jersey roads,?like those in Camden, these frightening circumstances seem rare but are all too common. Understanding the rules of the road
Yielding for Emergency Vehicles
New Jersey law dictates that all drivers must yield the right of way to emergency vehicles sounding a siren or flashing red or blue lights. Here are some general tips to remember when sharing the road with firetrucks and emergency vehicles:
Slow down and pull over.
Whether a fire truck, ambulance or other emergency vehicle is approaching you from behind or the opposite direction, pull over onto the side of the road and come to a complete stop. If you are on a multi-lane road or highway, pull over as far right as you can.
Watch for other emergency vehicles.
Before you pull back onto the roadway, look for other emergency vehicles that may be following the first.?Even after the fire truck passes, make sure to stay at least 500 feet behind it.
领英推荐
Yield to emergency vehicles at intersections.
Fire trucks responding to an emergency
If you are passing by the scene of an accident, give emergency vehicles and first responders plenty of space and follow any traffic directions or orders from those at the scene. Never run over a fire hose unless directed to do so.
Liability in an Accident
Liability in an accident with a fire truck depends on the circumstances of the accident. Emergency vehicles have the right of way when responding to an emergency. A collision that occurs because the driver failed to?yield the right of way?would likely be the majority fault of the driver.
New Jersey law, however, does not give blanket immunity to fire truck drivers or municipalities.
#emergencyvehicles #truckaccident #firetruckcollision #firetruckaccident #accidentattorney #accidentlawyer