When a fire truck hits you, the impact goes far beyond the crash. You’re left with injuries, medical bills, and a pile of questions. Who’s responsible? What if it was a city vehicle? How do you even start?
At the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti, we understand the confusion that follows. You need answers. You need support. And you need a Burbank fire truck accident lawyer who knows how to handle complex cases like these especially when government agencies are involved.
We've handled cases where a fire truck ran a red light and hit a small car broadside. The driver suffered a serious back injury. The city tried to deny liability, but we proved they didn’t follow proper protocol. Our client got the care they needed and the compensation to move forward.
If you’re searching for a Burbank truck accident lawyer who actually listens, fights smart, and knows the local system inside and out, you're in the right place.
What Is a Fire Truck Accident?
A fire truck accident happens when a fire engine or other emergency vehicle crashes into a car, motorcycle, or even a pedestrian. These aren’t like regular accidents. Fire trucks are big, fast, and often weaving through traffic with lights and sirens on. That creates a dangerous mix especially in places like Burbank where traffic can get tight and unpredictable.
You could be driving through an intersection with a green light when suddenly a fire truck blows through at full speed. Even if they’re responding to an emergency, they still have a duty to drive carefully. But proving that can be tricky.
As a Burbank fire truck accident lawyer, we’ve seen how fast things can go wrong—and how hard it is to get the truth unless someone steps in to fight for you.
Fire Truck Accident Statistics in California
Across California, fire truck accidents are more common than most people think. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire departments respond to millions of calls each year and in the process, fire trucks are involved in thousands of collisions.
In fact, studies show that around 30,000 fire truck crashes happen every year in the U.S. Of those, about 15,000 involve injury or property damage. And California, with its dense cities and high traffic, ranks near the top.
In Burbank, the narrow streets and constant traffic mean even a minor mistake can lead to serious injury. A client came to us after their vehicle was sideswiped by a fire truck during a lane change. The city tried to blame them but we uncovered dashcam footage showing the truck made an unsafe turn. That video changed everything.
When you're up against government agencies, the numbers matter but so does having the right fire accident lawyer on your side.
Common Causes of Fire Truck Accidents
These accidents usually happen fast, often when no one expects them. Some of the most common causes include:
- Fire trucks speeding during emergency calls
- Drivers working long shifts and losing focus
- Brake or engine failures
- Slick roads or low visibility
- Other drivers not yielding or driving recklessly
In Burbank, it’s not uncommon for a fire truck to rush through an intersection only to have a car turn left across its path. In one case we handled, a driver was hit even though they had a green arrow. The fire truck driver failed to clear the intersection properly. Our Burbank truck accident law firm helped uncover city radio logs and traffic camera footage that made all the difference.
As fire accident lawyers, we know how to find the cause and more importantly, prove it.
Injuries from a Fire Truck Accident
Fire trucks are massive. When they hit a smaller car, the damage can be serious. We've worked with clients who've suffered traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and long-term back issues. Some experience deep emotional scars too nightmares, fear of driving, or even panic attacks just hearing a siren.
In one case, a mother and her teenage daughter were rear-ended by a fire engine. Both survived, but the daughter suffered a spinal injury that required months of rehab. We helped the family get compensation that covered treatment and therapy so they could focus on healing, not bills.
These injuries change lives. That’s why working with the right Burbank fire truck accident lawyer can make such a difference.
Determining Liability in a Fire Truck Accident
These cases aren’t like regular car accidents. Fire departments are often run by city or county governments, which means you’re not just dealing with another driver you’re dealing with the system.
Responsibility might fall on the firefighter driving the truck, the department itself, or even another driver who caused the crash. But California law gives certain privileges to emergency vehicles, and cities are protected under “sovereign immunity.” That means they can’t always be sued unless you follow very specific rules.
Under the California Tort Claims Act, you have just six months to file a claim against a government agency. Miss that window, and your case might be dismissed before it starts.
We’ve helped clients navigate this process, including filing all the right paperwork and pushing back when a city tried to deny responsibility. As your Burbank truck accident lawyer, we know how to hold the right people accountable without getting lost in red tape.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
Every fire truck accident is different, but the impact on your life can be huge. You might be facing medical bills, time off work, or injuries that change how you move, think, or feel. That’s why compensation matters it’s not about the money, it’s about getting your life back on track.
You could be entitled to damages for things like hospital stays, physical therapy, or surgeries. If you missed work, that can be included too. On top of that, the law allows for pain and suffering because some injuries aren’t just physical. Anxiety, sleep problems, and the stress of dealing with it all can take a real toll.
In rare cases, if the fire truck driver acted with gross negligence say, driving drunk or ignoring major safety rules you may also be awarded punitive damages meant to punish that behavior.
We worked with a father who suffered a head injury after being hit by a fire truck while biking. His recovery was slow, and he couldn’t return to work for months. We helped him recover both his lost income and the cost of treatment and made sure the city acknowledged what had happened.
Damages vary depending on your injuries, but we work hard to make sure nothing is left out.
What to Do After a Fire Truck Accident in Burbank
Here’s what to do if you’ve been hit by a fire truck in Burbank. This simple list can protect your health and your case:
- Get medical help right away even if you feel okay. Some injuries take time to show up.
- Call the police and make sure a report is filed. This document can be key later.
- Take photos and get witness names. Details disappear fast after a crash.
- Avoid speaking to insurance adjusters alone they may try to get you to settle early.
- Talk to a lawyer who handles fire truck cases. The rules are different when you’re dealing with city vehicles.
A client followed every one of these steps after getting rear-ended by a fire engine at a stoplight. That made it easier for us to prove what happened and secure a full settlement.
Even if it’s been a few days, it’s not too late to act. The sooner we talk, the more we can do to help.
Why You Need a Fire Truck Accident Lawyer
Accidents involving fire trucks often mean dealing with city departments, special rules, and tight deadlines. You can’t just file a claim the usual way. There’s paperwork, liability arguments, and government protections to get through and you only have six months to file a notice of claim in California.
That’s why working with a lawyer matters. We know how to investigate these crashes, preserve key evidence, and meet every deadline. We’ve handled cases where the city tried to deny fault but we pulled public records, traffic logs, and expert testimony to prove otherwise.
One client came to us after the city claimed their injuries weren’t “serious enough.” We brought in medical experts and showed the long-term effects of their back injury. In the end, the case settled in our client’s favor.
The Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti brings real experience to the table. When you’re going up against city lawyers and fire departments, that kind of experience is exactly what you need.
How Our Firm Has Helped Clients Like You
A few months ago, a local Burbank resident was sideswiped by a fire truck while driving home from work. The impact was strong enough to spin his car into a parked vehicle. The city claimed the truck had the right of way. But the driver knew he had the green light and wasn’t at fault.
He came to us confused and frustrated. He was injured, his car was totaled, and the paperwork from the city felt impossible to navigate. Our team dug into the traffic footage, cross-checked dispatch records, and brought in accident reconstruction experts. We proved the fire truck entered the intersection too fast and failed to yield.
The result? A six-figure settlement that covered his medical bills, lost wages, and pain and a sense of justice that he didn’t think was possible when he first called.
As he put it:
“I felt like someone finally listened to me. Adrianos and his team knew exactly how to handle the city, and I didn’t have to do it alone.”
That’s what we do. We listen. We act. And we stay with you every step of the way.
Contact Our Burbank Truck Accident Law Firm Today
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers and real help.
If you’ve been injured in a fire truck accident, talk to the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti today. We offer a free consultation, and there are no fees unless we win your case. That means you never have to worry about upfront costs.
We move fast, because we know how quickly these cases can change. And when you call, you’ll speak with someone who’s ready to help not just take a message.
Call us now at (626) 793-8607 to speak directly with our team. Or, if you prefer, use the quick contact form below we’ll get back to you fast. We’re proud to be trusted by Burbank residents, with millions recovered for accident victims just like you. Our clients have rated us ★★★★★ on Google for a reason: we show up, we fight smart, and we care.
