Road accidents involving emergency vehicles

If you’ve been involved in a road accident involving an emergency vehicle that wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to compensation.

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Claims for Road Accidents Involving Emergency Vehicles

If you or your child has suffered injuries in a road accident involving an emergency vehicle, such as an ambulance, fire engine or police car, you may be eligible to make a road accident compensation claim.

As with other types of car accidents, you must be able to prove that the driver of the emergency vehicle was responsible for the accident and their negligence caused the injuries you have suffered. This may require evidence such as witness statements, a police report, CCTV evidence, photographs and medical records.

To find out if you can claim for a road accident with an emergency vehicle, call 0800 470 0474 today or enter your details here to request a call back.

Find out if you can claim

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Table of Contents

Can I claim for a road accident involving an emergency vehicle?

Whether you suffered injuries as a driver, a passenger or a pedestrian, you may be entitled to make a road accident claim following an incident with an emergency vehicle.

The best way to determine if you have a valid compensation claim is by consulting with a personal injury solicitor. They will ask you a few questions about what happened to determine whether:

The driver of an emergency vehicle was negligent in some way.
Their negligence led to a road traffic accident.
You suffered an injury and other losses as a result, within the legal time limit.

If these elements can be established, your solicitor will help you make an emergency vehicle accident claim. They will handle all the legal aspects of the case on your behalf so you can focus on recovery without the added stress of a claim.

In some cases, an accident with the emergency services may be the fault of a third party. This could be the local council failing to maintain the road or a vehicle manufacturer. Your solicitor will identify the liable party and help you claim compensation from them.

You should know that you could also claim on behalf of a loved one if they are injured in an accident and cannot handle legal proceedings themselves. This is typically the case when the injured party is a minor or an adult who lacks mental capacity.

How do I make a claim for an accident with an emergency service vehicle?

The first thing you should do if you want to claim compensation for an accident is seek legal advice. You will be offered a free case assessment, during which your legal options will be explained to you, and you can ask any questions you may have about the claims process.

If it can be proven that someone else was responsible for the accident, you will be paired with a solicitor with expertise in these types of cases. They will help you gather all the evidence you need to support your claim, as detailed in the section below.

Your solicitor will send a letter of claim to the other party, informing them of your allegations of negligence and the compensation you seek. If they admit liability, you can begin to negotiate a fair settlement for your injuries and related losses.

If the defendant denies being at fault for your injuries, your solicitor may need to issue court proceedings. They will be ready to argue your case in court, but this rarely happens. More than 96% of all personal injury cases are settled without going to court.

If your claim is successful, you can expect to receive your compensation within four weeks of a settlement agreement being reached.

What evidence do I need to claim for an accident with an emergency vehicle?

To make a successful claim, you must be able to prove how the accident occurred and the damages it has caused. To do this, you will need various types of evidence that your solicitor will help you collate, such as:

Photographs of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, road conditions and traffic signs. You should take these before anything is moved or tampered with.
Pictures of the injuries you sustained and your recovery process.
Dashcam footage and telemetry data of the emergency vehicle.
The name and contact details of the other driver.
Details about the other vehicle, such as its licence plate, make and model.
Contact details of any witnesses to the accident. Your solicitor could contact them later for a statement about what they saw happen.
Your testimony about how the incident occurred, the injuries you sustained and their impact on your daily life.
Medical records from the hospital, GP or minor injuries unit that treated you. These should include the type and severity of the harm you suffered, the treatments received and your recovery prospects.
If you suffered a severe injury, your solicitor may also arrange a free medical examination with an independent specialist to determine your long-term needs.
A report from an accident reconstruction expert, if necessary.
You also need proof of all financial losses and expenses incurred due to the accident. This could be in the form of receipts, invoices, or wage slips.

Your solicitor will ensure they gather everything needed to build a compelling case and secure the maximum compensation for your losses.

Do emergency vehicles have special rights on the road?

All road users, including emergency vehicle drivers, have a duty of care to other individuals using the road. They are subject to the same rules of the road and must still obey traffic laws just like any other driver. Even when responding to emergencies, they must drive with the same care as anyone else.

Although emergency vehicles must follow the same principles as other road users, the nature of their work means that under some circumstances, they can:

Ignore traffic signs and signals, such as red lights and stop signs;
Drive at high speeds that exceed the permitted limit;
Drive the wrong way on normal and one-way streets;
Use bus lanes and cycle lanes, or enter restricted areas if necessary.

However, they can only do so if absolutely necessary and without endangering other road users. If not attending an emergency situation, they must obey all traffic laws, just like all other motorists.

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries caused by a collision with an emergency service vehicle, and the driver of this vehicle was at fault, you should be entitled to compensation.

What should I do if an emergency vehicle is approaching?

It is important to note that road users also have a duty to pay attention to warning signals given by emergency vehicles. When you hear a siren or another warning signal, you must take appropriate action, such as giving way to the vehicle or pulling off to the side of the road.

Sometimes, drivers of emergency vehicles must ignore traffic lights or make unusual manoeuvres to answer an emergency call, and other road users must do what they reasonably can to allow them to do so safely.

This means that if you fail to take reasonable action after the emergency services display warning sirens, you may be held partially responsible for any accident that has occurred.

In these circumstances, you may still have a valid claim, but the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive may be reduced to account for the level of your own fault. This is referred to as contributory negligence.

If you deliberately obstruct the emergency services, you may even be prosecuted under the Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006.

Common injuries from accidents with emergency vehicles

Accidents involving emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, fire engines, or police cars, often occur at high speeds, especially when responding to an emergency call. These can lead to a wide variety of injuries, such as:

Head and brain injuries. These range from mild concussions and skull fractures to severe brain trauma. Some of these injuries can have life-changing consequences.
Back and spinal injuries. The force of impact can lead to various injuries, such as herniated discs, back fractures and spinal cord injuries. These can result in chronic back pain and even partial or complete paralysis.
Broken bones. Fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, or pelvis are common in high-impact collisions involving emergency response vehicles. Some of these can lead to long-term mobility issues.
Internal injuries. Trauma from an accident can damage vital organs or cause internal bleeding, which may be life-threatening.
Facial injuries. These include eye damage, broken nose, jaw fractures and dental damage. Some of them can have a significant emotional impact on the victim’s life.
Soft tissue injuries. Sprains, strains, and torn ligaments are common in accidents. They often affect the neck (whiplash), knees and shoulders and can limit mobility.

This list is by no means exhaustive, as vehicle collisions can lead to many other injuries for which you may be eligible to claim compensation.

How long do I have to make a personal injury compensation claim?

If you were involved in an accident with an emergency response vehicle, you typically have three years from the date of the accident to start a compensation claim.

This time limit is set under the Limitation Act 1980. If you fail to file your claim within this period, you may lose the right to seek compensation. We advise you to speak to a solicitor as soon as possible, as this will help them gather evidence to have a strong claim ready in time.

There are a few exceptions to the standard time limit:

For accidents involving children, the limitation period does not begin until the child turns 18. A parent or another suitable adult could claim compensation for them at any time before that.
The limitation date is suspended if the injured party cannot start legal proceedings. That could be due to an injury caused by the accident or a pre-existing condition such as autism or Down syndrome. In such cases, a litigation friend could make a claim on their behalf.
If a loved one suffered fatal injuries in an accident that was not their fault, you have three years from the date of their death to start a claim.

How much compensation can I claim for a collision with an emergency vehicle?

If you are thinking of starting a claim, you are probably wondering how much you may receive for a road traffic accident with an emergency vehicle. This isn’t easy to estimate without knowing the details of your case.

Each claim is unique, and compensation is calculated based on two types of damages. General damages cover the pain, suffering and loss of amenities resulting from the accident. Special damages cover related financial losses and expenses.

If your claim is successful, you could receive compensation for:

Physical pain and suffering
Emotional and psychological distress
Scarring and disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life
Physical and mental disability
Inability to pursue hobbies and activities you used to enjoy
Private medical treatments
Loss of earnings during recovery or long-term
Care and assistance with daily living
Adaptations to home or vehicle to accommodate a disability

According to the Judicial College guidelines, you could receive between £246 for minor whiplash and up to £493,000 for a very severe brain injury. Our compensation calculator can give you a rough idea of how much your claim could be worth.

Do I need a solicitor to claim compensation for an accident involving emergency services?

Road accidents involving emergency vehicles are not uncommon, but proving liability is often difficult. For this reason, it is essential to speak to a solicitor as soon as possible following your accident.

While it is not required by law, having an injury lawyer assist you with your claim brings various benefits, such as:

Help you collate all the evidence you need to build a strong case;
Handle all communication with the defendant on your behalf;
Keep you updated on the progression of your case so you can focus on your recovery;
Maximise the compensation award you are entitled to receive;
Significantly improve your chances of success through their expertise.

Injury lawyers provide a free case assessment service, so you can find out within a matter of minutes if you have a valid claim. This service is provided without any obligation to proceed further. If your solicitor can help, they will be happy to do so on a 100% no win no fee basis.

To get started, call free on 0800 470 0474 or enter your details in our contact form to receive a call back.