There’s no doubt that emergency vehicles such as police cruisers, fire department trucks, ambulances and other vehicles save lives. Often, law enforcement and other emergency personnel rush to the scene of accidents and crimes to protect the lives of others. Unfortunately, the speed at which they travel can mean these vehicles pose a danger on the road.

Drivers of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles get extensive training to allow them to drive safely, even at high speeds. Nevertheless, at these speeds, accidents can and do happen.

If you have been in an accident involving a police vehicle or other emergency vehicle, the damages can be extensive because of the force and speed often involved. In these cases, contact an emergency vehicle accident lawyer at the Pittsburg, KS, Coffeyville, KS, Kansas City, KS or Joplin, MO offices of Phalen Law Firm.

Why an Attorney Is Important

Being involved with an emergency vehicle is a complex matter. Often, people driving these vehicles are city, state employees or even federal employees. The regulations for pursuing a claim against these professionals or these agencies is very different than pursuing a claim against an individual passenger driver. For one thing, governments have added protections against civil lawsuit suits. Also, the statute of limitations may be shorter, meaning you have only limited time to file your claim.

The injuries likely with an emergency vehicle accident are also more serious. You’re more likely to suffer fractures, head trauma and other serious injuries if you are involved in a vehicle that is racing to the scene of an accident. Your costs related to medical care, replacing your car and paying for your lost income will be higher, and you may need to work harder to ensure these costs are covered, so you don’t have to pay them yourself.

It can be intimidating to go up against a municipality, state government or other government agency. In fact, you may have mixed feelings about filing a claim if you are hit by a police vehicle or fire department vehicle. We are trained to respect these professions, but you still have rights to compensation in case they act negligently.

If you have been injured by an emergency vehicle in a car crash, contact a police vehicle accident lawyer at the Kansas offices or Missouri location of Phalen Law Firm. Our attorneys are not afraid to pursue claims in court and to go after government employees who act in a negligent manner. With our accident reconstruction software technology, we can determine what happened at the scene of the accident and where speed may have played a factor. If you need to speak to a fire department vehicle accident lawyer, our Kansas locations in Pittsburg, Coffeyville and Kansas City, as well as our office in Joplin, MO, are at your disposal.