One firefighter died, and two others were injured after a fire truck got into an accident on the way to a call. The truck was on the way to put out a fire when it rolled over. Rollover accidents like this one are the type of fire truck accident that is the most likely to cause fatalities. Unfortunately, fire truck accidents happen more often than one might like to imagine. The brave men and women who risk their lives to help others are at risk for injury or death in a motor vehicle accident each time they get into a fire truck to respond to a fire call.
There are approximately thirty thousand fire truck accidents in America each and every year, and motor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of death for on-duty firefighters. Fire truck accidents have the doubly tragic effects of killing and injuring vehicle occupants and allowing losses of life and property that might not have occurred had the fire truck been able to reach its destination and put the fire out.
Unfortunately, some of the injuries and deaths that occur as the result of fire truck accidents are preventable. Data that has been collected by United States Fire Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that firefighters do not often buckle their seatbelts while traveling in fire trucks. Over half of the unrestrained fire truck, occupants who were riding in fire trucks that crashed were partially or fully ejected from the fire trucks that they were riding in, significantly increasing the risk of injury and death. Firefighters can reduce the risk that they will be injured or killed in a fire truck accident by wearing their seatbelts every time they ride in a fire truck.
There are a variety of types of fire apparatus, or fire trucks, which travel over roadways to fire emergencies. There are ladder trucks, fire engines, pumper trucks, aerial platform trucks, tankers, wilderness vehicles, and others. As is the case with any motor vehicle, there is the risk of an accident every time a fire apparatus goes out on the road. Despite the tragic nature of fire truck accidents, there is one piece of encouraging data regarding fire truck accidents. This bit of good news is that ninety percent of all fire truck occupants involved in all fire truck accidents escape without any injuries.
Barrett Law PLLC: Serving Mississippi Accident Victims and Their Families
Sometimes, there simply is no way to avoid an automobile accident no matter how careful you are. If you got hurt in a car crash or someone that you love died in a motor vehicle crash, contact a Mississippi Automobile Accident attorney right away. Your attorney can help you to pursue financial recovery for your injuries as you focus your energy on your physical and emotional recovery. The knowledgeable Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC are here to help you. Please call us today, at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule a free, initial consultation.