[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/liable-accident-emergency-vehicle\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/liable-accident-emergency-vehicle\/","headline":"Who Is Liable for an Emergency Vehicle Accident?","name":"Who Is Liable for an Emergency Vehicle Accident?","description":"Police, firefighters, and emergency medical responders must respond to emergencies as quickly as possible. While reaching their destination is a priority, emergency vehicle drivers must still exercise due caution, or else they run the risk of causing a severe injury accident. If you were injured in a crash...","datePublished":"2021-10-27","dateModified":"2026-02-26","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/kenbernard\/#Person","name":"Ken Bernard","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/kenbernard\/","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c8989e3a6ded75e4fe0fae6e90fc6dfec65eaf7676e8cefa113ad6e8e2d6c66?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c8989e3a6ded75e4fe0fae6e90fc6dfec65eaf7676e8cefa113ad6e8e2d6c66?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","width":300,"height":109}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ambulance.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ambulance.jpg","height":666,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/liable-accident-emergency-vehicle\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DVQnqUo2hEU#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DVQnqUo2hEU","name":"Douglasville & West Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers | Sherrod & Bernard","description":"For more than 26 years, the personal injury attorneys of Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., have been standing up for the rights of innocent people who were harmed due to the negligence of others. We understand the serious toll an unexpected injury can take on a person and a family. The medical bills, lost income, and other expenses can quickly become overwhelming. Our lawyers are committed to taking as much of the burden off you as possible.\n\nWe have earned a reputation for being hardworking, honest, and responsive. Call us today and learn why so many people throughout Douglasville and the surrounding areas trust our personal injury law firm to handle their serious injury claims.\n___________________________________________________________\n\nSherrod & Bernard, P.C. - Personal Injury Lawyers in Douglasville\n8470 Price Ave \nDouglasville, GA 30134\nPhone: (770) 920 - 8350\nwww.sherrodandbernard.com","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DVQnqUo2hEU\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DVQnqUo2hEU\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DVQnqUo2hEU\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DVQnqUo2hEU\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DVQnqUo2hEU\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2019-04-10T18:05:38+00:00","duration":"PT30S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DVQnqUo2hEU","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w","name":"Sherrod and Bernard","description":"When you are in a legal bind, you need an experienced attorney you can count on to provide you with skilled representation and sound legal counsel. Every lawyer under the sun will tell you that he or she is the right person for the job, but you need a firm backed with a successful track record. You need the firm of Sherrod & Bernard, serving the Douglasville area.\n\nAfter attending the University of Georgia together, attorneys John Sherrod and Ken Bernard founded the law firm of Sherrod & Bernard, P.C. in 1992. From the very beginning, the goal of our firm has been to provide each and every client with the quality personal service and skilled representation they deserve. You can count on our work ethic and our commitment to our clients.\n\nYou need a highly skilled attorney to successfully resolve your legal issues. One of our lawyers can help. Schedule a free consultation by calling our Douglasville office at 770-920-8350.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/uK-5K9pyHHwlk4D1Wclej9JOOudzsipnxVRsoc1u0fyFTl1Ykw0P1mMXhCw6PbtfZAwzpbuF_A=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DVQnqUo2hEU#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DVQnqUo2hEU#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DVQnqUo2hEU&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DVQnqUo2hEU#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":246086}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DVQnqUo2hEU#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":2}]},"about":["Auto Accident"],"wordCount":1247,"articleBody":"Police, firefighters, and emergency medical responders must respond to emergencies as quickly as possible. While reaching their destination is a priority, emergency vehicle drivers must still exercise due caution, or else they run the risk of causing a severe injury accident.If you were injured in a crash involving an emergency vehicle in Georgia, make sure to reach out to a knowledgeable\u00a0personal injury\u00a0lawyer right away for help. Seeking compensation from a municipal, county, state, or federal agency can be challenging. However, with the right legal team by your side, you can aggressively pursue the fair compensation you need and deserve.The Douglasville personal injury lawyers at\u00a0Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., have nearly 80 years of experience handling complex injury cases. We have the resources, skills, and knowledge necessary to help you if you\u2019ve been injured in a collision with an emergency vehicle.Call us, chat with us live, or reach out online today for a 100% free consultation.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGeorgia Traffic Laws for Emergency VehiclesYou should be aware of three important laws regarding emergency vehicles on Georgia roads.The first, which comes from Section 40-6-6 of the Georgia Code, concerns what police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances can and can\u2019t do when responding to an emergency. This law states that if an authorized emergency vehicle has its siren going and its emergency lights illuminated, the driver is allowed to exceed the speed limit and break other traffic laws \u2013 as long as it \u201cdoes not endanger life or property\u201d \u2013 so they can get where they need to be as quickly as possible.Drivers of emergency vehicles must still be careful to avoid causing an accident and can speed or break other traffic laws only when it\u2019s safe to do so. Furthermore, if an emergency vehicle does not have its siren and emergency lights turned on, the driver must follow the rules of the road.The second law you should know about when it comes to emergency vehicles comes from Section 40-6-16 of the Georgia Code. Known as the Spencer Pass Law or the\u00a0\u201cMove Over Law,\u201d\u00a0this statute says that if a driver is coming up on a stopped emergency vehicle that has its lights flashing, the driver should move into an adjacent traffic lane away from the emergency vehicle to avoid injuring anyone inside or near the vehicle. The law further states that if drivers can\u2019t move into an adjacent lane, they should slow down to below the posted speed limit until they have safely passed the emergency vehicle.The third important law to be aware of regarding emergency vehicles is Section 40-6-74 of the Georgia Code. This law states that if you notice an emergency vehicle coming toward you, you should immediately yield the right-of-way and move as close to the right side of the road or the edge of the curb. Once the emergency vehicle has passed, you can resume your travels.Fault for Crashes Involving Ambulances in GeorgiaAmbulances responding to an emergency need to get to their destination as quickly as possible, which may mean they need to speed, drive through a red light, or make other aggressive driving maneuvers. Ambulances are allowed to do this if they have their lights and sirens activated.If you\u2019re struck by an ambulance that has its lights and sirens on, you might be at fault for the crash. However, if the ambulance driver did not check if it was safe before proceeding through a red light or making another dangerous driving maneuver, they could be liable for the crash. The same is true if you collide with an ambulance with no sirens and lights on.Fault for Crashes Involving Police Cars in GeorgiaLike ambulances, police cars often need to travel at high speeds, run red lights and stop signs, or break other traffic laws when responding to an emergency. They are allowed to do this, but only if they have their lights and siren on, and they must make sure it\u2019s safe before breaking any traffic laws.If you\u2019re involved in a\u00a0car accident\u00a0or truck accident with a police car, you may be held liable for the crash if the vehicle had its lights and siren going and the driver took reasonable precautions. On the other hand, if the vehicle did not have its lights and sirens on or the officer was not sufficiently careful before breaking traffic laws, they could be liable for your injuries.Unlike other emergency vehicles, police cars often engage in high-speed pursuits of fleeing drivers. To ensure that continuing a pursuit doesn\u2019t pose an unreasonable risk to the community, the police must constantly run a risk analysis to weigh the risks of letting the fleeing driver get away against the hazards continuing the chase poses to public safety.Fault for Crashes Involving Fire Trucks in GeorgiaFire trucks are allowed to speed, run red lights, and break other traffic laws if they have their lights and sirens on and exercise caution before breaking these rules. If you\u2019re involved in an\u00a0truck accident\u00a0or car accident with a fire truck that\u2019s following the laws, you could be held liable for the accident. If the fire truck driver was not following the rules, they could be held liable for the crash.What Is Sovereign Immunity and How Does It Affect a Georgia Claim?The\u00a0doctrine of sovereign immunity\u00a0is one of the complicating factors in any accident involving emergency vehicles. In essence, this doctrine states that government agencies generally cannot be sued unless they allow themselves to be.However, the Georgia Tort Claims Act waives sovereign immunity and allows lawsuits against government agencies in certain circumstances. Because these claims are more complex than a typical car crash suit, you need to work with an attorney who understands the law and how to make a strong case.What Can Drivers Do to Avoid an Accident with an Emergency Vehicle in Georgia?Here are some easy tips for avoiding accidents with emergency vehicles:If possible, move over if you\u2019re coming up on a stopped emergency vehicle.\u00a0Not only is moving over for stopped emergency vehicles the law, but it also makes it less likely that you\u2019ll accidentally strike the vehicle or emergency personnel on the side of the road.Get out of the way of emergency vehicles.\u00a0If you\u2019re in traffic and an emergency vehicle is coming up behind you or toward you, follow the law and move as far as you can to the right side of the road.Don\u2019t drive while you\u2019re impaired, distracted, or tired.\u00a0Staying awake, alert, and focused on the roads will make it easier for you to notice a nearby emergency vehicle and avoid a crash.Get Help from an Experienced Georgia Car Crash LawyerThe Georgia emergency vehicle accident lawyers at\u00a0Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., will be ready to fight for you if you were injured in a crash involving an emergency vehicle. While government entities are generally well protected from liability, it is possible to seek compensation if the driver or another party were negligent and caused you harm.Don\u2019t assume that you don\u2019t have a case just because the other side is a government agency. Instead, contact one of our knowledgeable attorneys today for a thorough, honest, and 100% free case evaluation. Call us or reach out online to speak with us now."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Who Is Liable for an Emergency Vehicle Accident?","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/liable-accident-emergency-vehicle\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]