Accidents Involving Wheelchair Vans and Busses
Wheelchair vans and busses — often referred to as "ambulettes" — are responsible for the safe transport of patients requiring doctor visits, dialysis, X-rays, physical therapy or any number of medical treatments. Owners and operators of these vehicles have the duty to make sure that their passengers get from destination to destination safely so that they can get needed medical treatment.
While the duty is to help people take care of their health, this does not always happen. The sad truth is that ambulettes are often involved in serious accidents, causing personal injuries and fatalities.
Ambulette accidents routinely lead to broken bones (fractures), concussions, internal hemorrhaging, brain injuries and even wrongful death. As experienced personal injury attorneys, the lawyers at Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman, P.C., are well-prepared to handle cases involving even the most serious of these accidents.
We use extensive resources and often partner with highly regarded experts to examine the evidence involved. Using that evidence, we build strong and effective cases for our clients. The result? Favorable jury verdicts and settlements that give our clients the resources to move forward with their lives.
Why Ambulette Accidents Occur
Each accident is different, and the critical factors behind each accident are unique. There are many ways that ambulette drivers engage in negligent and reckless actions, putting the people they transport at risk of tragic and even fatal accidents:
- Loading incorrectly, causing wheelchairs fall off of wheelchair lifts
- Failure to properly secure passengers to their wheelchairs with seatbelts
- Failure to properly secure wheelchairs to ambulettes or vans
- Leaving passengers unattended for unreasonable periods of time
- Operating ambulettes while distracted or impaired
- Failure to follow traffic laws while behind the wheel
Often, these events occur because drivers are not properly staffed, trained or more frequently inattentive and negligent. Many of the drivers are employed by small, privately owned "mom and pop" companies that are poorly equipped for the requirements of transporting loved ones to and from their appointments.
Drivers' schedules are tight, and they are frequently underpaid for the amount of work they are required to do. Many are under a great deal of stress. We always investigate our cases thoroughly. Sometimes, we discover extenuating factors — such as a driver who was out sick the day of the crash, forcing other drivers to rush to cover his or her shift.
If You or a Loved One Have Been Harmed
If you or a loved one have suffered an ambulette accident, seek help from an experienced attorney. Contact Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman, P.C., online or by telephone at 888-253-1221 for a free and confidential consultation. If your injury prevents you from coming to our Manhattan law office, we will visit you at the hospital or your home.
