Buffalo, New York, Car Accidents Caused By Failing To Yield The Right-Of-Way To Emergency Vehicles

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Highly-Praised as a New York Super Lawyer, and His Battle-Tested Team of Lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., Differentiated as an American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Personal Injury Law Firm, Uncompromisingly Litigate to Obtain the Best Outcomes for Victims Seriously Injured by Another’s Failure to Yield the Right-of-Way to an Emergency Vehicle in Buffalo, New York.

When there is a medical emergency, fire, or crime in progress, you may see ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars racing to the scene. Undoubtedly, it is in the public’s best interest for emergency vehicles to arrive at accidents, medical traumas, raging fires, and active crime sites as fast as they can. For this reason, emergency vehicles have absolute priority on our roadways while responding to tragedies or dangers. When emergency vehicles are driving at high speeds in times of crisis, the first responders are placing their lives at risk. Unfortunately, car crashes involving emergency vehicles happen more often than you may think. Many of these accidents could have easily been avoided if other drivers were more cautious and yielded the right-of-way to emergency vehicles.

Failing to yield the right-of-way to approaching emergency vehicles not only places the lives of the first responders in jeopardy but also the lives of those they are trying to save. That is why Section 1104 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL) provides important permissions and safeguards to operators of authorized emergency vehicles that are engaged in emergency operations. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. takes great pride in seeking justice for accident victims and their families. If you, or a loved one, were unfortunate enough to be injured in a failure to yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle car accident, it is time to take matters into your own hands by calling Jed Dietrich, Esq.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his battle-tested team of attorneys know exactly how to build successful personal injury cases. We refuse to allow anyone’s negligence or carelessness to destroy your way of life. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s elite team will do everything possible to guarantee that you receive the compensation that you deserve for all your injuries. Depending on the damages, you may be able to obtain compensation for hospital bills, rehabilitation, lost wages from missed work, diminished future earning capacity, permanent disabilities, pain and suffering, and any other unforeseen unfavorable consequences. Even if you think that you were partially responsible for the crash, our best of the best attorneys may still be able to recover some compensation. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s veteran team offers completely free case assessments and consultations. We would be pleased to discuss your claim in further detail. Our seasoned team is available around the clock at (716) 839-3939 or by filling out the online consultation form.

Failure to yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle is commonly confused with New York State’s Move Over Law.

1. An Approaching Emergency Vehicle: If you see or hear an emergency vehicle, with its lights flashing, approaching from either direction, you are legally obligated to stop your car as close to the right-hand side as possible. Failing to yield means that a driver did not move their vehicle to the right and stop to let an approaching emergency vehicle pass through.
2. At Intersections: If you hear sirens while coming up to an intersection, stop before reaching the intersection and look for any emergency vehicles. Never pull over in any manner that blocks the intersection. If an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind, drive through the intersection and pull to the right as soon as it is safe.  
3. On the Highway: Drivers on highways or other multi-lane roads must reduce their speed, signal, and move to the right as much as possible. Your car should be parallel to the road. Also, avoid stopping on the shoulder of the road and stay clear of all on and off-ramps.
4. Approaching a Stopped Emergency Vehicle: The Move Over Law applies when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the road. The law requires all approaching drivers to move to the left and slow down until fully passing the responders.

Sometimes, yielding the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle may seem unnecessary. However, failing to do the same jeopardizes not only your safety but also places first responders and everyone else on the road in danger. Every time you see flashing emergency lights or hear sirens, it is vital to take them seriously. Steps to properly yield the right-of-way and avoid crashing into emergency vehicles include:

1. Stay Alert: Always keep your eyes on the road and avoid driving while distracted.
2. Assess the Situation: If you see flashing lights or hear sirens, determine which direction the emergency vehicle is approaching from. After fully evaluating the situation, establish the safest plan of action.
3. Use Your Signals: Always alert other drivers of your intent to move over to the right. After the emergency vehicle passes completely, check to ensure that you have a safe passage and signal before merging back into traffic.
4. Abstain from Abrupt Movements: Avoid making any sudden lane changes or slamming on the brakes. Pulling over too suddenly could cause a collision with motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians. Check your blind spots, look at surrounding traffic, and use your mirrors before reducing your speed or changing directions.
5. Always Remain Calm: When an emergency vehicle is approaching, try to stay calm and proceed with extreme caution. Give the responders enough space to get by safely and do their job.

After being involved in any type of accident, the best decision that you can make is to schedule a complimentary consultation with the finest personal injury attorney in Buffalo, New York. Jed Dietrich, Esq. has exclusively represented clients with severe personal injury cases throughout the country for more than two decades, which includes many car crashes involving failure to yield the right-of-way. Jed Dietrich, Esq. has forcefully litigated to obtain over $175 Million in verdicts and settlements for victims who were injured in Buffalo, New York, and beyond. We urge you to safeguard your legal rights by contacting the best of the best at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Our unwavering devotion to exceeding your expectations and delivering a remarkable outcome is what sets us apart from other lawyers. Call Jed Dietrich, Esq., his top rated team of lawyers now at (716) 839-3939 so that we can help you! We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (716) 839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!