A city of Pittsburgh fire truck that was responding to a call was involved in an accident in Squirrel Hill South.
According to officials the incident occurred in the morning at the intersection of Forward Avenue and Commercial Street. Two firefighters were injured in the accident and both were taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
The fire truck itself sustained significant damage, according to officials. The accident is currently under investigation.
While it may not seem too commonplace, fire truck accidents actually occur quite often. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 2,000 fire truck accidents happen every year. These accidents lead to hundreds of injuries and fatalities.
While fire truck drivers can disregard certain traffic controls (stop lights, stop signs, yield signs) under certain conditions, they must still exercise caution and only do so when it’s safe. For example, they are not allowed to drive through an intersection against a red-light if it is unsafe to do so. They still must exercise caution and have an obligation to keep other motorists on the road safe as well.
With fire trucks being so large, traveling at high speeds makes it difficult to brake or avoid other vehicles on the road — moving or not. If involved in a collision with a fire truck, the resulting injuries can be quite debilitating. Injuries can include but are not limited to, fractures, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, whiplash, psychological injuries, severe burns and/or even death.
Just like motor vehicle accidents, these fire truck crashes can occur for a number of reasons. It can be speeding, disregard of traffic control signals, driver inexperience, failure to adjust for weather or even poor road conditions. There plenty of other causes, most of which fall under the category of careless driving.
If a fire truck driver’s reckless driving led to you or a loved one being in an accident, then you have the grounds for a personal injury case. Jason Matzus of Matzus Law, LLC in Pittsburgh is a personal injury attorney who is more than prepared to help you get the compensation you deserve.
With personal injuries following a motor vehicle accident, there are a number of things you can be compensated for as the injured party. With a personal injury claim you can seek compensation for:
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Medical treatment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death
Jason Matzus has over 20 years of experience with personal injury cases. He advocates on behalf of injury victims and their families in an effort to get justice and proper compensation. He will make sure your best interests are always a priority.
For a free initial consultation with Matzus Law, LLC, call (412) 206-5300 or fill out our online contact form. Begin discussing your personal injury matter today.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.