First responders, including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, play a critical role in emergencies by providing immediate assistance to save lives and stabilize situations. However, when these professionals fail to exercise reasonable care and act negligently, their actions can cause injuries that can be more severe than the ones sustained in the initial incident. If you or a loved one have been injured during transport by an ambulance or EMT in the state of Indiana, it’s important to understand your options for seeking compensation for injuries and damages.
It is possible to file suit for being injured by an ambulance or first responder in Indiana, but the circumstances of the case will determine the viability of a claim. Ambulances and their operators are generally held to a standard of care, even during emergencies. However, there are some key considerations that can separate your case from a traditional personal injury claim, impacting your ability to obtain compensation.
Initiating a lawsuit against a governmental entity in Indiana can be extremely challenging due to sovereign immunity laws, which provide certain protections to government workers and entities. This includes city and county ambulance operators, as well as police officers and firefighters, who are afforded certain privileges under the law. However, there are some exceptions where liability may still arise if it can be proven that a driver or first responder acted outside the scope of their duties or engaged in grossly negligent behavior. If you were injured by a private transport company, sovereign immunity would not apply and your personal injury attorney would file a claim against the company or its insurance provider, similar to other vehicle accidents.
Common ambulance-related incidents can include head bump trauma, gurney mishaps, and vehicle accidents during transport. These all can lead to serious injuries, necessitating compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Because of the unique nature of these incidents, filing suit against multiple parties may be necessary, creating complexities such as proving precisely when and how injuries were sustained.
For these and other reasons, it’s extremely important to seek representation from an experienced personal injury attorney who can provide guidance based on the circumstances of your case and one who is familiar with governmental immunity laws.
If you or a loved one have been in an accident while being transported by an ambulance, contact Hurst Limontes to discuss your options. With over a century of combined experience advocating for clients in various personal injury claims, we operate on a contingency basis, meaning there is no fee unless we secure a settlement or jury verdict on your behalf.
Call 317-636-0808 or fill out the contact form below for a FREE, no-obligation review of your case.
