A recent wrongful death suit followed a fatal collision with a fire truck. There have been several recent wild fires here in Southern California, and fire trucks are a too-frequent sight on our freeways. Recently, one of those fire trucks collided with a San Clemente couple, killing the husband.
The fatal accident occurred in Agoura Hills where the couple was traveling on their way to a wedding rehearsal dinner for a family member. The man was reportedly making a left turn on Mulholland Highway when the fire truck stuck the car in which the couple, themselves newlyweds, were riding.
The man’s widow and mother sued the driver of the truck as well as Los Angeles County for negligence and wrongful death. They sought an unspecified amount in damages.
According to the lawsuit, the fire truck was traveling too fast and was “unsafely passing on the left on a two-lane highway” at the time of the accident. It wasn’t reported whether the truck was on its way to a fire or if it had its lights and sirens on. However, it was reportedly carrying 13 inmates from a fire camp in Malibu.
In the suit, the man’s widow, who married her husband after an eight-year courtship just six months before the fatal crash, said that she was still obviously suffering emotional distress.
A recent wrongful death suit followed a fatal collision with a fire truck shows emergency vehicles must operate legally as well. While those who drive emergency response vehicles, including fire trucks, sometimes need to go faster than other vehicles on the road and make maneuvers that regular drivers can’t legally make, they are still required to look out for the safety of others on the road. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed by an emergency vehicle, regardless of the situation, it’s worthwhile to explore your legal options.
We invite you to review the strong recommendations of former clients and the legal industry and contact us or call to speak with me personally for a free, private and confidential consultation at (949)305-1400.
