By: Mike Reiner
Have you ever been injured as a result of an accident with an emergency vehicle? You probably wonder what rights you may have. In New York, the Vehicle and Traffic Law provides certain exemptions for emergency vehicles from liability for personal injury. Emergency vehicles such as police vehicles, ambulances, and fire vehicles are generally exempt from liability when involved in an emergency operation. The courts have generously expanded the definition of emergency operation over the years to shield emergency vehicles from liability. In judging the conduct of the emergency vehicle operator, courts have held that liability will attach only if proven that the operator showed a “reckless disregard for the safety of others.”
