Who's to blame when an Ambulance runs a Red Traffic Light ?

Question

It had no sirens on and hit my car. I was pulling away to turn across the junction on the Green Light and it side swiped me. I've read that Emergency vehicles must treat Red's as a Give Way (therefore not making it my fault as he should have waited for me to move out of its way). Does anybody have any experience of this ?

Just to clarify, it did have its lights on but not the sirens. It was a cross junction and I was going from South to East (so a 90 degree turn to the right), it was travelling from West to East. There was a car infront of me so I followed the flow of the traffic. The ambulance driver told me that the law for Green lights and drivers is "proceed with caution" so I can see this going 50:50 but really don't think its my fault !

Scedex:
I appreciate your knowledge in this area ! I only know the lights were on because I saw them after we had collided and the vehicles were parked up. Both witnesses confirmed that the sirens weren't on.

My argument would be that at a Green Light I can assume that its my right of way, at a Red Light the ambulance driver can't assume that I've seen him and I'll stop. It should be his responsibility to be driving with caution through junctions/ traffic lights etc.

Answer 1

I'm a paramedic and based on what you said the ambulance is at fault. You state they had no lights or sirens on and therefore they were not exempt from the road rules at the time. (Even then they cannot just switch on the lights/sirens when they please - they have to be on an emergency to use them.)
The ambulance service concerned will have a record of what the ambulance was tasked on at the time of the collision.
Yes we must treat reds as give way signs and yield to make sure the intersection is safe to enter. We - and you - are expected to drive with due care and attention at all times.

...and user "Day Dreamer" - *all* emergency vehicles with lights / sirens on have the right to go through a red light. Duh...

****Okay, you have clarified that the emergency vehicle had it's lights on and so was responding to an emergency. (Sirens are discretionary under many circumstances.)
You *will* be found to be in the wrong, you failed to give way to an emergency vehicle and the ambulance driver is right, Green lights mean "proceed with caution".
If it went 50/50 I would consider that you were extremely lucky.

You seem sure that no sirens were on but admit the lights were on. I'm wondering how you noticed the flashing lights if you didn't see him? Perhaps the sirens were switched off after the collision and at that point you only observed the flashing lights and so assumed the sirens were never on? (We get this a lot).

Answer 2

That is similar to something that happened here locally. A firetruck with sirens going hit another car killing a family. The firetruck driver was at fault. It is not legal for any vehicle to run red lights, emergency or not, unless certain precautions are taken. Any emergency vehicle must make usre the path is clear and drive in a safe manner inorder to not harm anyone.

Have you seen those police chase shows where the police are always trying to keep the public safe and catch the guy running? The police yeild at intersections to make sure they don't hit anyone. The ambulance should as well.

Answer 3

i was, until recently, a paramedic in the UK and completed the ambulance level 2 advanced driver training course.

it is the ambulance's responsibility to check for oncoming traffic, especially since, being a larger vehicle, they will have better visibility. in the UK, red lights are treated as "stop and give way" and i remember on my training course being yelled at for not coming to a complete stop. he should also have used the siren when crossing the line. lights are not enough.

the amb driver is in the wrong. they are not "allowed" to cross red lights, they may claim an exemption, which they must be able to justify in a court. not using the siren would negate their exemption and the first thing your lawyer should ask if it reaches court (which is unlikely, they'll prob just pay out) is whether they were using the siren and if not why not. it's hard to justify not using it - it's why they have one.

Answer 4

It is practice that an emergency vehicle does not have the right to run the light but in the event of trying to save lives blues and twos must be sounded and caution taken at lights. If they cause an accident they are then grounded from that emergency but you may have to provide proof that the two tones were not on in order to persue a claim against them

Good luck with this one let the insurance company sort it out

Answer 5

I'm an EMT (there is no such job as an ambulance driver) and they were at fault. To go through a red light the ambulance needs to sound its sirien, stop at the intersection to make sure its clear, and then move across it. You didn't have the right of way, but they are at fault. In the future look before you go through an intersection...people don't always obey the law.

Answer 6

IF the sirens are not on, an ambulance must follow traffic laws like any other vehicle. It's impossible to tell from your description what precisely happened (were you turning left? did you misjudge the speed of the oncoming traffic or take an otherwise insufficiently small gap?).

Answer 7

its manditory for the emergency vehicles to yeild to cars in the intersection if the light is red and use correct judgement on greens and other traffic control devices alike (e.g. signs and signals) they should have had the sirens on to alert you they were coming but the lights can only do so much to warn of the approaching ambulance or other emergency vehicle

Answer 8

I'm not saying this was your fault but regardless if you had the green light or not don't you look before moving off? it's never a good idea think just because you have the lights in your favour it will be safe not only for emergency vehicles but for drivers jumping the lights.

Answer 9

Emergency vehicles have to yield if they are not going Code 3.(Red lights and Siren). Get a laywer, most do not charge unless you win, then they get 33 percent.

Answer 10

I am in the Fire Program, They are at fault.

The first thing they teach you about driving the gut bucket or the truck it drive at a safe but quick speed, making other drivers aware of your presents with the lights and sirens.

The driver of the Ambulance was not following safe procedures, he is now another incident and not being productive in helping other.