Every year, emergency medical technicians are injured or killed in car accidents while responding to emergencies. Between bad road conditions, drivers who aren’t paying attention and the inherent dangers of driving through an intersection on your way to answer a call, every time you climb into an ambulance, you are putting yourself in danger to save other people’s lives.
While there is a high risk of becoming injured on the job as an EMT, you are still entitled to receive benefits provided by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage. From medical expenses to lost wages, you should be compensated for your losses.
After being injured in an accident, you should first seek medical attention. Once you are on the mend, it is time to find out what you need to do to file a workers’ compensation claim. When preparing to file a claim, it is advisable to seek the advice of a Georgia attorney experienced with workers’ compensation
Dangers on the job
There are several major factors that contribute to ambulance crashes, however, the number one cause is driving through an intersection or crossroads. Over 40 percent of all ambulance crashes occur during an attempt to go through an intersection.
When driving through intersecting roads, you are not only in danger of being hit by other vehicles, but you could also hit cars that either did not see you coming or did not exit the area quickly enough.
Another major contributing factor of ambulance crashes is losing control. Excessive speed, failing to properly take a corner and overcorrecting of steering can lead to horrific accidents.
Other things that can cause you to wreck while behind the wheel of an ambulance include icy or wet roads, traffic that is stopped and causing an obstruction or traffic that fails to stop when you do. There is also the danger of other emergency vehicles responding to the same or different calls.
Filing a claim
As an EMT, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim in Georgia when you are injured while at work. After you have received any immediate medical treatment necessary following an ambulance crash and your employer has been notified, your employer should then file a workers’ compensation claim with their insurance provider.
The insurance company should then cover the cost of medical expenses and any lost wages you suffered as a result of the accident.
Involvement in a car crash while driving an ambulance should not mean the end of your job or the loss of your ability to continue performing duties as a first responder. If you have been involved in a car accident while responding to an emergency call and you have been denied appropriate medical care, contact a local Georgia attorney with experience handling worker’s compensation claims.
