A recent fatal accident serves as a reminder of an important safety issue that all drivers must be aware of whenever they are on the road. The crash involved an emergency vehicle and a three-wheel motorcycle, as well as two other vehicles. A firefighter was responding to a call in a Danville Fire Department SUV when the SUV struck a three-wheel motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle was killed, and his passenger was airlifted to the hospital. After the initial collision, two more vehicles hit the SUV.
While investigation into the accident is ongoing, reports from witnesses indicate that the sirens and lights on the fire department SUV were operating at the time of the accident. In light of this tragic accident, drivers must always remember that they may encounter emergency vehicles while they are on the road. Knowing what to do when an emergency vehicle is approaching helps to keep everyone safe, including drivers, passengers, emergency personnel, and the people who are involved in the emergencies to which the emergency vehicles are responding.
Unfortunately, some drivers do not know what to do when an emergency vehicle is approaching. If all drivers knew what to do, and they did in fact do it, a clear path through traffic would appear as the emergency vehicle went down the road, and the vehicles that had moved over to let it pass would seamlessly reenter the roadway and resume their travel after it had passed by. However, confusion among drivers often leads to situations in which emergency vehicles get slowed down because there is not a clear path for them to use to bypass the traffic. This causes delays in emergency response, and the consequences can be devastating.
In Kentucky, drivers must follow the Move Over Law, and they may be fined for failing to do so. According to the law, found at KRS 189.930(1), if you see any type of emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle approaching, you must switch lanes safely so that it can pass. If vehicles are next to you and you cannot move over, do your best to allow the emergency vehicle to get around you. You may be able to make room for the emergency vehicle by slowing down, or by safely pulling over to the side of the road. When drivers use safe driving techniques to move over so that emergency vehicles can pass through, everyone benefits. The drivers and their passengers avoid accidents, emergency personnel are able to respond to emergencies and render aid promptly, and people who need emergency assistance get help sooner.
If you were hurt in an accident involving an emergency vehicle, you may wonder whether you will be able to recover financially for your injuries. Make an appointment to talk with a Kentucky Automobile Accident Attorney as soon as you can, to learn more about how you can get the help that you need with your automobile accident injury claim. Call the Kentucky Automobile Accident Attorneys at Goeing Goeing and McQuinn, PLLC today, or contact us through our website.