The second leading cause of death for firefighters is motor vehicle accidents.  Over 25% of the Firefights killed in the line of duty die from car accidents. The over 30,000 fire truck accidents yearly have consequences for the fireman, their family, and society.

A firetruck is a huge vehicle, and because of the size and mass, most firefighters are not seriously injured in the most common crashes.  Nonetheless, because these trucks are so heavy, their center of gravity leads them especially susceptible to rollovers.

Firefighters sometimes forget to buckle their seatbelts, leaving them at high risk, especially if there is a rollover accident.

In the video below, a fire truck can remain very stable depending on angle and speed or may rollover. Over two-thirds of firefighters’ deaths in motor vehicle accidents come about as a result of a rollover.

Most fire truck accidents happen near intersections in the PM. Although firefighters are injured and killed frequently in crashes, typically (75% of the time), the driver in the other vehicle is killed or injured.

Every accident involving a fire truck is different. The causes of the accident could be various, including:

• Excessive Speed
• Failure to check out the vehicle safety-wise before leaving the station
• Fatigue
• What’s referred to as “siren syndrome.”
• Mistakes in backing a vehicle unsafe Passing

Whether you were an injured firefighter in an accident or need help because you or a family member has been injured by a fire truck accident, we can help. Call our experienced Sacramento personal injury attorneys today at 916.921.6400 or 800.404.5400 for free, friendly advice.

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Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 8.30.21]

Image by D-Vu from Pixabay