Source: https://www.brienrochelaw.com/tort-law/tort-case-law/e/emergency-vehicles/
Timestamp: 2020-07-04 09:21:06
Document Index: 380032330

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46']

Emergency Vehicles Cases Summarized By Personal Injury Lawyer
Brien Roche Law > Tort Law Resources > Tort Case Law > Tort Law Cases – E > Emergency Vehicles: Cases Summarized By Injury Lawyer
Emergency Vehicles: Cases Summarized By Injury Lawyer
This page within Virginia Tort Case Law is a compilation of cases reported by the Virginia Supreme Court and summarized by Brien Roche dealing with the topic of Emergency Vehicles and the related topic of vehicle accidents. For more information on emergency vehicles see the pages on Wikipedia.
Emergency Vehicles-Statutes
See Va. Code § 46.2-920 permitting ambulances and rescue vehicles in response to emergency calls to exceed posted speed limits within corporate limits of cities and towns.
See Va. Code § 46.2-920 as to certain exceptions applicable in regards to speed limitations. This section is not intended to release operator of emergency vehicles from civil liability for failure to use reasonable care in such operation.
See Va. Code §§ 46.2-829 and 46.2-920 as to duty of motorist upon approach of emergency vehicles and fact that these vehicles are exempt from regulations in certain instances.
See Va. Code § 46.2-921 as to following or parking near fire apparatus.
Emergency Vehicles-Cases
1972 Smith v. Lamar, 212 Va. 820, 188 S.E.2d 72.
Police exempted from certain rules of road when in pursuit of law violator provided police activate siren and flashing lights. Standard of care applicable to such officer is that of prudent man in discharge of official duties of like nature under similar circumstance.
Plaintiff police officer on motorcycle in pursuit of defendant rear-ended defendant. Jury issue presented.
Plaintiff policeman was pursuing speeding motorist on his motorcycle. As officer came alongside left rear of vehicle, it suddenly turned left into intersecting street. Plaintiff injured attempting to avoid collision. Trial court found plaintiff guilty of contributory negligence as matter of law, as officer was in violation of Va. Code § 46.1-190(e) [now § 46.2-858] which forbids overtaking or passing another vehicle at intersection. Plaintiff, even as police officer, not exempt from requirements of statute.
Plaintiff had fire on property. Defendant’s train, passing at crossing, blocked fire equipment from passing; ordinance prohibiting blocking of crossing only applies to standing trains. Held: no negligence.
1959 Virginia Transit Co. v. Hodges, 201 Va. 232, 110 S.E.2d 231.
Under city ordinance, drivers are required to pull to right and stop upon approach of emergency vehicles giving audible signal. This is true even at intersection where ambulance has red light and regardless of whether ambulance was engaged in genuine emergency assignment.
Police vehicle with red lights and siren activated is still required to stop for red light.
There is no statute that relieves ambulance of requirement of stopping for red light.
Even when on errand of mercy, vehicles cannot exceed speed limit and disregard traffic lights. Here, defendant was transporting his injured brother to hospital.