A tragic accident in Greene County, Mississippi on June 24, 2014 resulted in the loss of two local paramedics. The paramedics were responding to an emergency medical call around 11 a.m. While traveling on Highway 63 in the Sand Hill Community, an 18-wheeler hauling a bulldozer took a left turn in front of the approaching ambulance. The 18-wheeler and the ambulance collided, causing both vehicles to burst into flames. Both paramedics, Alan Smith and Dennis Rushing, died in the accident. The driver of the 18-wheeler, who has been identified as 47 year old Charles E. Bexley of Beaumont, Mississippi, was transported to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
While the accident is still under investigation, Brent Barfield of the Mississippi Highway Patrol has publically stated that the ambulance had the clear right of way because the paramedics were responding to a medical call. The speed with which ambulances are able to make it to the scene of a crisis is extremely important to the individual 911 callers and the public as a whole. Brent Barfield, Trooper 1st Class, knew the victims personally and emphasized the need to recognize the efforts and heroism of paramedics every day.
This Mississippi ambulance crash is sadly one of many that occur each year. In 2010, over 250 ambulance crashes made the news. With nearly 50,000 ambulances on the roadways each day, it is likely far more crashes occur that are simply not carried by the local news stations. One major problem with calculating ambulance accident rates is the lack of a central repository for crash reports. Neither the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health nor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention require reporting.
An analysis of the available ambulance crash data reveals that the following factors are most often involved in accidents:
- Intersections: Over half of all ambulance accidents occur at intersections. This is likely due to ambulances attempting to navigate through red lights while other drivers fail to yield or move out of the way.
- Loss of control of the vehicle: A large portion of ambulance accidents involve loss of control of ambulances. Often, these vehicles are traveling at high rates of speed in an attempt to reach the waiting injured or sick people. Excessive speed can be a contributing factor to accidents as can overcorrecting of steering.
- Road conditions: Slippery roads made slick by snow or ice cause several ambulance crashes each year. Hydroplaning causes accidents most often but wind can be a factor as well.
- Rear end collisions: Rear end accidents involving either a car or truck striking an ambulance, or vice versa, occur in high numbers.
If you have been injured in a large vehicle accident, whether it be a truck, ambulance, or other sort of commercial vehicle, contact a licensed Mississippi accident attorney as soon as possible. Accidents involving these vehicles will have special issues of recovery and fault. Your best chance of a full recovery will be to start the process early.
Barrett Law, PLLC: Zealous Representation for Truck or Commercial Vehicle Accident Victims
For decades, the Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC have provided aggressive representation for the victims of all forms of large or commercial vehicle across the state. Our truck accident attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and resources to obtain the results you desire. Barrett Law, PLLC operates on a contingency fee basis and the first consultation is always free. The attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC pride themselves on ensuring each and every client receives superior representation, with passion and zeal. Call today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.