Emergency vehicles like police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks share the road with us every day. If you see an emergency vehicle approaching with lights and sirens on, you must yield with “reasonable caution.” This means you must slow down and move your vehicle to the side of the road if necessary so the emergency vehicle can overtake you. The goal is to help the emergency vehicle reach the accident scene faster.
Reasonable caution means “regard for the safety of all persons.” This is a legal standard of care or duty that applies to everyone on the road, including emergency vehicles.
Under California law, emergency vehicle drivers may exceed speed limits when using flashing lights and sirens. However, this does not mean they should drive recklessly. Emergency vehicle drivers must still slow down at intersections or stop signs to avoid creating a dangerous situation. If an emergency vehicle driver is reckless while responding, the driver may be at fault if an accident happens.
If you’re in an accident with an emergency vehicle, it’s important to contact an experienced auto accident lawyer to help you. Your lawyer will ensure your rights are protected and pursue an outcome that allows you to move on.
What Does the Law Require From Drivers?
California law is clear on how drivers must act when they see flashing lights or hear a siren. Under the California Vehicle Code (CVC) §21806, drivers must yield when an emergency vehicle approaches with a visible red light and an active siren. If you notice this, you must pull to one side of the road or, if possible, stop until the vehicle passes safely.
Another law, CVC §21809, explains what you should do if you see an emergency vehicle parked on the side of the road with flashing lights. You must approach with “due caution,” so change lanes away from the vehicle if it’s safe to do so. You should also slow down to a safe speed, even if that speed is below the posted speed limits. This helps protect first responders and the people they’re helping at the scene. These laws are meant to prevent secondary crashes.
What Reasonable Caution Looks Like in Real Situations
Reasonable caution is not a single action you can take in every situation involving an emergency vehicle. What you do depends on what is happening at that moment. For example, if you see flashing lights, reasonable caution could mean:
· Slowing down
· Moving to another lane
· Increasing the distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you
· Stopping if necessary or if the law requires it
· Watching for signs, cones, or a stop sign held up by a police officer
Keep in mind that if you do not pull over or allow a moving emergency vehicle to pass you, a court can say you did not use reasonable caution if an accident occurs. The same applies if you do not slow down after seeing an emergency vehicle on the side of the road.
How Fault Is Determined in Emergency Vehicle Accidents
Drivers must follow the rules of the road at all times. If you do not yield, slow down, or if you pass too closely to emergency vehicles, you can be found negligent. California enforces pure comparative negligence, which means more than one person can share fault for an accident caused by negligence. If yourre injured in a crash with an emergency vehicle, your lawyer and the court will look at the following:
· Did the emergency vehicle use lights and a siren?
· Did you move to the side of the road when you saw the emergency vehicle?
· Did you slow down when you saw the emergency vehicle?
· Did the emergency vehicle driver act in a safe manner?
· Were there temporary signs or a stop sign in place?
· Did the traffic conditions or the roadway make changing lanes unsafe?
At Sepulveda Sanchez Accident Lawyers, we consider all of these factors when helping you with a caso de lesiones personales and will advise you on the way forward while protecting your rights.
What to Do If You’re in an Accident With an Emergency Vehicle
If you’re in an accident with an emergency vehicle, take these steps:
· Get out of the car only if it’s safe to do so. Use your phone to take photos of the accident scene.
· Get a police report.
· If you’re injured, let the paramedics treat you.
· If you’re treated in a hospital, you must keep all receipts and medical records.
· Do not speak to any insurance company before hiring a lawyer.
· Contact a lawyer who understands emergency vehicle accident laws.
Let Sepulveda Sanchez Accident Lawyers Help You
At Sepulveda Sanchez Accident Lawyers, we know how scary and confusing an accident with an emergency vehicle can be. We offer guidance and compassion and will advocate for your rights throughout the entire legal process. We also work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay anything up front. Contacte con los abogados de accidentes de Sepúlveda Sánchez for a free consultation and let us help you get your life back.