Large Accidents Put Stress on Emergency Response System

In most jurisdictions, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) receive hours of training to ensure the highest quality of care is provided to those involved in an accident or other emergent health situation. Cities strive to ensure enough personnel is available at a moment’s notice to improve opportunities for good outcomes for anyone who suffers a heart attack, a car accident, or any other incident. But when a large scale accident occurs, these resources are stressed to the limit.

An eight-vehicle accident in Chicago on January 27th, 2018 is only the most recent example of a large scale auto accident that strains the system. Eleven people required a trip to the hospital, one person was killed, and an unknown number of others had to be evaluated at the scene.

Sifting through the carnage is always difficult in a situation like this, and because the priority is safety, sometimes evidence at the scene is compromised. Police officers and other experts will attempt to determine exactly what caused the accident, but limitations might arise that are unheard of in smaller-scale events. Though EMTs are trained to save lives, they are less skilled at preserving evidence.

If you have been part of an automobile accident where EMTs were involved, determining fault can be very difficult, particularly if multiple vehicles were involved. Insurance companies will go back and forth over the details, but sometimes your insurance company may not represent you to the extent you think they should.

If you have any questions regarding your accident and the way the issue is proceeding, please contact an experienced attorney. A qualified lawyer can guide you through the process of evaluating evidence and determining how to hold accountable the person who caused the accident.