November 17, 2011

A fire truck that crashed Wednesday night in Lumberton, New Jersey, has left five volunteer firefighters injured. NBC-Philadelphia reported today that the accident occurred at around 8:00 PM on a stretch of Smithville Road near Route 38.

Authorities say that rain was pounding as the truck was returning to headquarters after a call. The driver told investigators that on the way, he swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle on the narrow, rural road. When the driver over corrected, it caused the vehicle to overturn, tearing part of the roof off of the truck. Five volunteer firefighters who were aboard the truck when it crashed had to be taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. All are expected to recover. Investigators say they are still working to determine the cause of the crash.

Pennsylvania state law mandates that firefighters and paramedics who are injured in the line of duty must be provided with workers’ compensation coverage. Some insurance companies are labeling the job and certain cities as high risk though, a move which means higher premiums–between 25-50 percent–and more claim denials. Not only could this strike a blow to an area’s emergency response capabilities, but could also bring harm to firefighters injured on the job.

The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Lawyers with Lundy Law have experience helping those who have been injured on the job battle insurance companies for the compensation they deserve. If you have been hurt, contact us by filling out a free initial consultation form to talk about your case in detail.