Firefighting teams serve an important and valiant role in today’s society. They are usually the ones racing to try to save others from harm. However, in order to race to the emergency, firefighters must travel at high speeds on very large and cumbersome fire trucks. Because each fire team works in its own neighborhood, the majority of the driving takes place on small and often congested streets. Due to all of these factors, accidents involving fire trucks have been on the rise in recent years and have caused considerable injury to many motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and firefighters themselves. If you have been injured in an accident with a fire truck, you should always consult with a truck accident lawyer in Coweta County as soon as possible to see if you have a possible case.
Many accidents in the United States are caused by drivers speeding or failing to obey traffic laws. In a fire truck’s case, speeding and driving through traffic signals is part of the job in order to reach the emergency as quickly as possible. However, when fire trucks are operating on busy streets at high speeds, drivers must make their presence known in a particular way to all other motorists on the road. If a firefighter speeds through an intersection and does not properly warn surrounding motorists with the correct sirens, signals, and lights, he is acting negligently.
Right of way is also an issue for fire trucks when they are headed to emergencies. Though motor vehicle drivers know they should get out of the way and allow fire trucks to have the right of way, they often do not obey these right of way rules. If a fire truck collides with a motor vehicle in its way, the accident may involve many other vehicles if the street is congested. Therefore, the fire truck accident may actually be the fault of another motorist.
Determining the cause of a fire truck accident is very important. An experienced truck accident attorney knows how to investigate the accident to determine fault and help you get the settlement you deserve. Call Shane Smith Law today at (980) 246-2656 for help.