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Police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks have to get to the scene of an accident or emergency as fast as possible. They speed around traffic, which is necessary but dangerous. What happens if one of these vehicles hits your car?

You’re probably at fault if a first responder hits your car 

If your car gets hit by a first responder then it will be pretty difficult to prove that the other driver was at fault due to the Move Over law. 

Police officers, ambulance drivers, and firefighters are allowed to speed, run red lights, travel through turning lanes, and more. 

It’s a driver’s job to pay attention to the road at all times and to be aware of flashing lights and sirens that are heading their way. 

The Move Over law requires drivers to safely move over for emergency vehicles. When an emergency vehicle is coming up from in front or behind your vehicle, safely slow down and move over. 

A fire truck speeding down the street
A fire truck responding to an emergency | iStock

Stop until the emergency vehicle passes you. The only time when you don’t need to do this is on a four-lane highway with a median and the first responder is heading in the opposite direction. 

If the vehicle is parked in the emergency lane, slow down and move one lane over. If there aren’t multiple lanes of traffic, slow down. 

Police officers, ambulance crews, and firefighters aren’t safe on the side of the road and often get hit by passing cars. Also, emergency vehicles should have their lights on so other drivers can see them and be aware that people are on the side of the road. 

If an emergency vehicle hits your car while responding to an accident, you will probably be held at fault unless you can prove the emergency vehicle driver was acting with negligence. 

Responders are permitted to violate traffic laws while responding to an emergency, but they’re still required to ensure the safety of the public. However, you’re being negligent if you don’t get out of their way.

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Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.