What to Do If an Ambulance Hits Your Car: Steps to Take After an Accident

Finding yourself involved in a car accident is a troubling experience, but knowing what to do if the other car involved is an ambulance is difficult. After all, drivers are instructed to get out of the way for emergency vehicles. There are situations where emergency responders can still be liable in a crash, though, meaning the burden of heavy vehicle collision injuries may fall on them. 

By learning what to do in the aftermath of the accident, you can lay the foundation to proving who was liable for the event. Follow the below actionable steps to set yourself up for success. 

Immediate Steps to Take at the Scene

The aftermath of any car accident, let alone one with an ambulance, will be chaotic. Remain calm and follow the below steps to ensure that you are on top of everything: 

1. Ensure Safety First

As with any car accident, your first order of business needs to be ensuring safety first. To prevent follow-up accidents, try to move your vehicle to the shoulder or away from the path of other vehicles. Additionally, check yourself and any passengers for injuries thoroughly. 

Only after ensuring your own safety and the safety of those in your car should you check on other drivers involved, as this order of priority will ensure more emergency services are called if needed only.

2. Call 911

While it may seem odd considering the other vehicle involved was an ambulance, calling 911 is still important. This will ensure that there are police officers on site who can document the details of the accident. Independent responders filing a report will help from both a legal and insurance standpoint, as it will provide an unbiased account of what happened based on the aftermath in their eyes. 

3. Gather Information

As mentioned, the aftermath of a wreck will be chaotic. Do your best to grab key information such as the license plate of the ambulance and the agency name though. Additionally, try to collect to name of the driver and their badge number, if applicable. You should also check to see if there were any witnesses who saw what happened and who would be willing to give contact information. In addition to a police report, this extra unbiased account will be helpful in outlining the details of what happened. 

4. Take Photos and Videos

On top of gathering the above information, you should also take as many photos and videos of the scene and surrounding area as possible. Any damage to vehicles should be documented as well as the  conditions of the road. Skid marks, traffic light functionality, intersection markers, and more are all examples of items to think about. 

Understanding Who May Be Liable

Getting into an accident with an ambulance is a confusing experience as emergency vehicles always have the right of way. With that said, the driver of an ambulance still has a duty of care to other drivers to drive with caution when passing around others on the road.

There are cases where ambulance drivers can be negligent, such as running a red light without their siren on or blatantly hitting a vehicle they were trying to pass because they were going too fast. In cases such as these, the driver themselves and even their employer could potentially be held liable. This point becomes more common if the case for a wreck was due to a mechanical breakdown of the ambulance. A hospital or private agency is responsible for maintaining the vehicles, and not doing so can lead to lawsuits.

Given that ambulances very likely could be employed by government entities, though, sovereign immunity might come into play. If this is the case, it will be quite important to consult with a lawyer ahead of time so that everything is covered by the book. 

There may also be a situation where the actions of a third party led to your collision with an ambulance. For example, if someone failed to yield and the ambulance needed to swerve to avoid a head-on collision, only to bump into you, then liability may be shared. 

Reporting the Accident and Filing a Claim

The immediate aftermath isn’t the only important post-crash step. You also need to ensure you file a car accident claim in a timely manner. Below are the key steps to handle:

1. Filing a Police Report: Obtain an official accident report and follow up to request a copy to verify all details for your insurance
2. Contacting Your Insurance Company: Most insurance companies require prompt reporting for accidents, so do this but be sure not to make specific statements that could be used against you. Having uninsured motorist coverage can be helpful in collisions with government vehicles which may not have standard insurance as well.
3. Understand Special Rules for Emergency Vehicles: Claims against any government agencies often have strict deadlines and you likely need to file a notice of claim before a formal lawsuit so work with an accredited lawyer if this is the case.

When to Seek Legal Assistance

If there are serious injuries, disputed liability, or odd involvement by the government after the crash, consider hiring an attorney to help with your case. An accredited professional can help you negotiate with insurers while also assisting with the process of navigating legal claims against the government. 

Whether it’s investigating negligence or simply helping you gather evidence and file paperwork, a lawyer can be a helpful partner for your needs. 

Protect your legal interests

When a car accident of any type occurs, it’s up to you to protect your legal interests. This means taking all the right steps after a crash to ensure your rights are covered. If you’ve been involved in a collision with an ambulance where you believed negligence was involved and suffered extensive injuries, don’t hesitate to reach out to a lawyer for help right away. Filing a lawsuit against a government entity is a complicated process, but a lawyer can ensure you cross every necessary step off your list to give your case the best shot at success.