Tennessee Mother and Child Critically Injured in Accident with a Fire Truck
Recently in Tennessee, a 911 call reported a serious emergency where a man was experiencing chest pain and in dire need of immediate assistance. Emergency services dispatched four firefighters to come to his aid, who in the interests of arriving at the scene as quickly as possible, sped quickly out of their fire station About seven minutes after the firefighters left, the firefighter engine collided with a white Ford Taurus at a busy intersection, critically injuring a young mother and her one-year-old son. Specifically, the mother was trapped inside the vehicle while her child was ultimately ejected from his seat and out of the car.
In the interests of answering duty’s call, the firefighters involved in the crash worked to extricate the mother from her car while simultaneously working to stabilize the child. Paramedics quickly arrived to rush the mother to the Regional medical Center in Memphis; while the child was taken to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. As a result of the accident, portions of East Memphis roadways were shut down for nearly three hours while crews removed the debris and damaged vehicles from the scene.
Investigators worked to try and figure out what happened following the accident. With regard to the woman and child, Chief Keith Staples of the Memphis Fire Department said, “We have concern for the two individuals.” Chief Staples is apparently of the opinion such collisions are a rare occurrence. “The investigation will lead to what actually took place in this case.”
In light of the above and typically in a situation like this, a fire truck and an ambulance would have been dispatched together to provide assistance to the man who initially called into 911 due to his life-threatening symptoms. However, the ambulance was on another call, leaving the firefighters as the only ones available to respond, ultimately giving rise to the accident.
Overall, it is important to realize that Memphis Fire Department drivers are trained to get through traffic when responding to emergencies, yet to drive defensively while still strictly obeying all applicable traffic laws. One law in Tennessee that is designed to assist emergency personnel while responding to an emergency is the State’s “move over” law. Specifically, this law requires vehicles to move to the right side of the road and come to a complete stop so emergency vehicles can pass without incident.
This story is another perfect illustration that in Tennessee, trucking accidents can happen in a variety of ways, and for a variety of reasons. Accidents such as these often result in serious injuries and even death, which could have been prevented had certain measures been taken beforehand. Because the law can be confusing, it is best to contact an experienced Memphis attorney to help you sort through your options.
At the Memphis law firm of Bailey and Greer, PLLC, we have the experience and skills necessary to help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries. For more information on our personal injury services, or if you have questions about your case, please contact us today to receive your free case evaluation by dialing locally to 901-680-9777. We look forward to hearing from you!
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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