Accident Overview
In 2021, an accident occurred at the intersection
The victim, a 33-year-old woman, was a rear-seat passenger in a taxi that was lawfully traveling westbound.
Meanwhile, an ambulance with its siren and emergency lights activated entered the intersection despite a red light.
At that moment, the ambulance struck the side of the taxi, resulting in a T-bone collision.
As a result of the crash, the woman sustained serious injuries including herniated discs, radiculopathy, and a torn meniscus in her knee.
- The victim suffered a herniated lumbar disc, which caused severe lower back pain and numbness in the leg due to nerve compression.
- She also experienced radiculopathy—sharp, radiating pain accompanied by tingling and sensory disturbances.
- Additionally, she sustained a torn meniscus in the knee, resulting in pain, joint locking, and limited mobility.
Fault Analysis
1. Ambulance Driver
Under New York traffic law, an ambulance with activated sirens and lights is permitted to proceed through red lights. However, the driver is still legally required to ensure the safety of other vehicles and pedestrians before proceeding. In this case, the ambulance failed to adequately check for cross traffic, and was therefore found to be partially at fault.
2. Taxi Driver
The taxi entered the intersection lawfully on a green light, which initially supports a finding of no fault. However, New York law requires drivers to yield or stop when an emergency vehicle with sirens is approaching. Therefore, failure to notice or respond to the siren may result in partial liability.
3. The Victim (Female Passenger)
The victim was a passenger and had no control over the vehicle, thus was not involved in the operation. She was also wearing a seatbelt, which further absolves her of any legal fault. As such, she was entitled to full compensation without any reduction due to comparative fault.
Compensation Outcome
The victim filed a civil lawsuit against the insurers of both the ambulance and the taxi.
As a result, including medical expenses, future treatment costs, lost earnings, and emotional distress, she received a total settlement of $2,005,000.
- Medical Expenses : She was compensated for all medical costs including ER visits, orthopedic care, surgery, and rehabilitation.
- Future Medical Costs : Expected long-term treatment costs were included to cover potential recurrence or worsening of her injuries.
- Loss of Income : Her inability to work as a bartender due to physical limitations was factored into lost wages compensation.
- Pain and Suffering : She received damages for emotional distress, including anxiety, sleep disturbances, and reduced quality of life.
- Other Expenses : Additional reimbursements covered transportation to medical appointments, damaged personal items, and caregiver support.