Is it OK to speed during a medical emergency in Texas?
Pedestrian Killed by Truck Rushing Stabbing Victim to the Hospital
According to a KSAT News report, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a speeding vehicle on the Northwest Side this week.
Police reported the accident happened at around 3 a.m. on September 25th, near Northwest Loop 410 access road on Callaghan. A truck speeding down Callaghan hit a pedestrian, police say was standing in the roadway. The truck driver said they were rushing a stabbing victim to the hospital, who had reportedly been stabbed multiple times near Aurora Avenue and Hortencia Street. The driver was not found to be intoxicated and was arrested, and the pedestrian died of his injuries at the scene. He was later identified as David Bernardo Valdez Jr., 24. Police had not yet located the perpetrator as of the time of the report but had a suspect.
Did You Know?
Roughly 1.3% of accidents are caused by a medical emergency.
Can You Speed During a Medical Emergency in Texas?
If you’ve ever seen an action movie, you can probably remember a dramatic scene where a hero is rushing an injured person to the hospital, speeding, swerving through traffic, and narrowly avoiding major collisions.
While this can make for some riveting TV, in real life, you are not legally allowed to drive over the speed limit for a medical emergency in Texas. Only emergency vehicles and doctors responding to emergencies are allowed to do so.
Why You Can’t Speed During a Medical Emergency
Traffic laws like speed limits and stop signs are put in place to protect you and other drivers from harm. Especially in the case of speed limits, which are designed with safe travel on the specific roadway in mind.
When you disregard traffic laws, you are more likely to get yourself and the victim of the medical emergency killed, not to mention all of the people sharing the road with you. Besides, EMS takes between 7 and 13 minutes to arrive, depending on whether you’re in a rural or urban area, and can often treat victims on the scene without needing to take them to the hospital.
Instead of speeding, if someone is experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and wait a short time for EMS to arrive.
Disputing a Traffic Ticket for a Medical Emergency
If you decide to dispute a traffic ticket, you usually only get one shot in traffic court.
A traffic ticket on your record can cause problems for you, so some people decide to dispute them on the grounds that circumstances warranted the reckless behavior. This method doesn’t deny that you committed a traffic violation, just that you were justified in your actions.
This sort of defense is only effective if you have some kind of proof (i.e., witness statements, treatment records, GPS, etc.) that a medical emergency was, in fact, taking place. Even if you do have this evidence, it doesn’t guarantee that your ticket will be dismissed since medical emergencies are not technically grounds for speeding.
Injured by a Speeding Driver in San Antonio? Call Shaw.
If you were hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to compensation for things like:
- Ambulance Costs,
- ER Treatment,
- Medical Bills,
- Lost Work,
- Pain and Suffering,
- Trauma/PTSD,
- Wrongful Death,
- And More.
We’ll help you find out if you have a case for free.
Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 today to set up a free case evaluation with a car accident attorney. No fees, no obligations, just expert legal advice. We look forward to serving you.