Imagine having a large fire truck hit you as it is off to a emergency. They dont stop. Is it a hit and run? ?

Question

The sirens start, I pull over to the side of road.. The truck makes a sharp turn, not wide enough. The rear tire hooks onto my car and starts draging me. We finally come loose. my car is torn up in the rear. They never stop, just continued on to where they were going. i went home and called 911. What are my rights? The fire cheif came and took pictures.No police were called. They did there own accident report. Is this correct way? What are my rights? Do I just get my car fixed? I could have been badly hurt.

Answer 1

You should get a police report. I doubt they will press charges for hit and run, given the circumstances that they were on an emergency call. But they (the driver or the fire department) are still responsible for the damage to your car.  

Answer 2

Big fire truck ... little car.  The driver of the truck may not have been aware that he hit you until he got to the scene of the call he was responding to and saw the damage.

Contact the fire department involved, ask what the department will do about the damages.  File a claim with your insurance company (if you have a police report it will help).  Your best bet is to cooperate with the department and reach an agreement, turning this into an adversarial relationship might cause a delay in any payout!

I was hit by a Lincoln towncar (in the early 80's ... big car!) while driving a tractor trailer rig.  I had no idea the Lincoln rear ended me until I saw it in the middle of the road with severe front end damage!  That truck might weigh 40,000 lbs!  Hitting a car with a vehicle that weighs that much would be similar to hitting a rabbit with a Crown Vic.  

Answer 3

Yes, it is hit and run.

That they didn't call the police is indicative that they will try to cover it up or deny it.



Report the incident to the police.

Always call the police to the scene.

Always take pictures if you can!

See a lawyer!

Answer 4

get a lawyer.  

Answer 5

WHY in the world did you call 911 when you got home. There was no emergency.  You are lucky they did not charge you.  Contact your insurance company and they will work with the fire department.

Geeeeezzzzzzzzz

Answer 6

I had the same thing happen except it was an ambulance. They did not stop  but radioed in a report to the police  who came and wrote up an accident report. When I filed a claim for damages I was told  that the law excepted  vehicles responding to emergency from liability, and there was no provision to pay me, and I should   file an uninsured motorist  claim with my insurance company to pay for my damages. The law may be different in your  city, but I would not count on it. Before you  waste money on a lawyer talk to your insurance company. They do not want to pay so will advise you to file against the city if you have a legal claim

Answer 7

First- it is entirely possible that the driver did not even notice that he'd clipped you with the back end. Remember your car likely weighs about 3,000 pounds, where as a fire apparatus generally weighs in at around 50-60,000 pounds.

Second- Emergency vehicles responding to an emergency call, or in the case of an ambulance- transporting an emergency patient to the ED also, are exempt from the requirement to stop if in the opinion of the responsible officer or medic that stopping would put lives at risk. However crews are required to notify dispatch of the incident and if possible leave a crew-member to provide initial care & info to the police.

Third- 911 is for EMERGENCIES, calling to report an accident after you get home is NOT an emergency.

See also-

Guidelines to Follow in Case of an EMS Vehicle Collision

http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/ems...

"If the patient being transported is UNSTABLE and the ambulance is not rendered inoperable, and there are no other unstable patients on the scene, then instruct the other vehicle operator to remain at the scene until police arrive and provide them with:

Service name;

Vehicle identifier; and

The ambulance operator's name

Record the name, vehicle type, make, and license number of the other vehicle before leaving the scene with your patient.

If the crew has an extra person, leave him/her at the scene to begin the paperwork.

If a STABLE patient is being transported assure that care is being provided to the patient by an EMT while awaiting the arrival of the police, if waiting will not cause excessive delay. While waiting for police to arrive exchange information then continue transport to the original destination upon arrival of the police. Return to the scene after delivering the patient to their destination"

- David

Answer 8

They didn't have to stop and make out a report.  They were responding to a fire.  A fire where someones life may have been on the line.  Your "rights" are to contact them and see what they are going to do.  If they are exempt from repairs, then have your insurance company repair it.

Answer 9

Not in THEIR case, since it was an Emergency... -But I suspect you'll get SOME kind of Compensation from their Insurance Company... -Check with YOURS, & see what happens...

Answer 10

The City/County will likely fix your vehicle. Hit and run? They were responding to an emergency! If it were your house on fire, would you want them to stop or save your house? Use a little common sense here.