Emergency responders are causing some serious emergencies of their own.
Police, fire and EMS vehicles hit nearly two people a day, wrecking cars and causing debilitating injuries to bystanders, according to injury claims reviewed by The Post.
“If I sit it hurts. If I don’t move too much it still hurts,” said Sandra Cruz Beauchamp, 64. The Bronx woman can barely lift her arm after she claims she was rear-ended by a cop car so hard that her vehicle was propelled the truck in front of her.
Nearly 1,400 people were hit while on foot or in their cars by emergency responders in 2009 and 2010, according to claims submitted to the city comptroller.
In 2009, the FDNY paid out $8,660,680 to settle 498 claims related to vehicle accidents, city records show.
“These accidents are so, so common,” said attorney Paul Edelstein, who recently represented a Brooklyn man who was ejected from a livery cab after a police vehicle hit it.
“[Officers] are supposed to slow down or stop to make sure the way is clear before proceeding. Very rarely does it seem that they do it,” he said.
(Source: NY Post)