Generally, ambulances and other emergency vehicles arrive on the scene of an accident to assist any possibly injured victims. In March, however, members of a paramedic team in Hollywood, Florida were the victims of a serious collision themselves. The team from Rescue 17 Crew were headed to a call for a medical emergency when the crash occurred.

Law enforcement authorities reported that police officers had tried to pull over driver Claude Richard Casimir for speeding in his silver Infiniti a few minutes prior to the collision. Casimir, who had a woman and a small child in the car with him, fled the scene of the traffic stop and sped away. Casimir then ran through a stop sign and collided with the ambulance in the intersection. The ambulance spun around and rolled onto its side, crashing into a fire hydrant in the process, which began spilling water.

Neighbors heard the sounds of a crash and rushed toward the vehicles to help. Witness reports indicate that the impact caused the toddler to fall out of her car seat onto the floorboards of the Infiniti and that she was crying. The woman in the Infiniti also appeared to be in significant pain while Casimir was trapped in the vehicle. Three paramedics were trapped in the flipped-over ambulance and police had to break the windows to get them out. All three suffered injuries and were transported to the hospital. No report was made regarding the condition of the occupants of the Infiniti.

According to law enforcement, Casimir did not have a valid driver’s license as his license had been revoked due to his status as a habitual traffic offender. He also had a prior charge for fleeing from law enforcement in Miami-Dade County and was on probation at the time of the crash. He now faces 10 additional felony charges, including eluding police officers, resisting, violating his probation, operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license, and more.

When a driver violates traffic laws and causes injuries, the violations can be used as evidence that the driver was negligent and should be held liable for all losses related to the accident. Since Casimir broke several different traffic laws and caused injury to the three paramedics, a court would likely order him to compensate the paramedics for all or their losses, including medical bills and lost income, should they choose to file a personal injury claim.

Have you been injured in a motor vehicle accident?

Auto accidents can occur for many different reasons. Whether a driver blatantly violated the law or not, inured victims may be able to recover for their losses from any potentially negligent parties. It is always a good idea to consult with an experienced Broward County auto accident attorney who can evaluate your case and advise you on whether you have a viable personal injury claim. Our personal injury lawyers are committed to helping injured victims in the South Florida area, including Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Weston, Plantation, and more.

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• Motorcycle accidents
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Understand your legal rights when you are involved in a car accident. Schedule an appointment or contact us at 954-961-5100 for more information or to discuss your free consultation. We speak English and Spanish.