Pittsburgh Public Vehicle Accident Lawyers

Dedicated Personal Injury Lawyers Fight for Clients Injured in Accidents With Public Vehicles Throughout Pittsburgh

Public emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars, are given the ability to disregard various traffic laws in emergency situations for a reason—we need these first responders to be able to get to the emergency for all of our protection. Despite this, public vehicles are driven by human beings, who, despite their extensive training, can cause accidents if they are negligent in executing their duties. If you have sustained injuries in an accident caused by a public vehicle, you may feel intimidated or confused about the possibility of pursuing a claim to recover compensation for your injuries because, after all, the people who drive these vehicles are there to protect us. At Goodrich & Geist, P.C., our Pittsburgh public vehicle accident lawyers can help you understand that, although these cases can be complicated, you may have the right to recover compensation from a negligent driver of a fire truck, ambulance or police car.

Injuries caused by colliding with a public vehicle can be especially severe, and even life-threatening, because of the large size of some of these vehicles and the high speeds at which they may legally travel. After you are injured in an accident involving a public vehicle, it is especially important to retain an experienced public vehicle accident lawyer because, in some cases, a reduced timetable will apply so that you will have less time to decide whether to pursue a claim against a government entity. These special rules do not apply with respect to all public vehicles, and the experienced lawyers at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. can help explain how they may work in your case.

Complexities Posed by Pennsylvania’s Sovereign Immunity Laws in Certain Public Vehicle Accidents

Public vehicles generally include those vehicles that are present to protect and serve the public, including fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and other vehicles designed for use in providing protection for the public in an emergency. Although not all public vehicles are operated by government entities, in some cases—such as when a police car is involved—recovering compensation will require pursuing a claim against the government entity itself. When this is the case, the usual two-year time period for deciding whether to pursue a claim for damages does not apply and you are given only six months to provide notice of your intent to pursue a claim to the government entity that includes:

• The date, time and location of the accident,
• Your name and address,
• The contact information of the doctor who treated you.

Under Pennsylvania law, the amount of compensation that you can receive from the actual government entity may also be limited to around $250,000 (the amount is adjusted from time to time).

Pittsburgh Public Vehicle Accident Lawyers at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. Have the Resources Necessary to Successfully Pursue Compensation in Your Case

The skilled Pittsburgh public vehicle accident lawyers at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident to determine whether any one of the following factors contributed to the accident:

• The driver of the public vehicle was overly exhausted from working extended hours,
• Improper maintenance of the public vehicle,
• The driver of the public vehicle had not been properly trained in safely navigating the roadways while disregarding certain traffic rules,
• An emergency vehicle was driven at excessive speeds under the circumstances.

Public vehicles and their drivers are retained to protect the interests of the public in emergency situations. When their negligent driving causes even more harm than the emergency itself, you should have the right to just compensation for your injuries. While public vehicles are permitted to disobey the speed limits, stop signs and red lights in an emergency situation, they continue to have a duty to drive as safely as possible under the circumstances, so that innocent bystanders and drivers of vehicles on the roadways are not injured.

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With our Pittsburgh Public Vehicle Accident Lawyers Today

The fact that recovering compensation in a case involving a public vehicle accident can be complex does not mean that you do not have the right to recover full and fair compensation for your injuries. Goodrich & Geist, P.C., our experienced Pittsburgh public vehicle accident lawyers will evaluate your case to help you understand whether you have the right to pursue a claim for compensation, and the rules that will apply depending upon the vehicle that caused your accident. Call our offices, or fill out this online form, to set up a free consultation with our experienced personal injury lawyers today. Our office is conveniently located at 3634 California Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

Frequently Asked Questions About Public Vehicle Accidents