Legal Question in Personal Injury in Pennsylvania

911 liability - ambulance delay

I'm very sorry to hear about your tragic loss. I'm also sorry this reply is late; I just got the notification about your posting.

I'm a Pennsylvania attorney who has handled government liability and medical malpractice cases; I'd certainly be interested in meeting with you to talk about whether something can be done. If you're anywhere in the PHiladelphia area, feel free to call me for an appointment; if not, feel free to call me for a referral to someone in your area. Of course, there's no charge for such a consultation.

Certainly, ambulance companies can be held liable for unreasonable delay in responding. Proving the exact time sequence is very important: I suggest that you immediately contact the police dispatcher to preserve the 911 call. Those calls are taped, but typically they only hold the tapes for a short time. If they have a 90-day cycle, the tape may still be available. Check into this right away, even before you see a lawyer.

If the ambulance company was a government agency, it has immunity to some types of claims, and notice of any potential claims must be sent to government units within 6 months of the incident.

For all these reasons, you should actively look for a good lawyer. Because the claim is so serious, you should meet with several law firms to find one who is the best for you.

The above does not constitute legal opinion and is offered for the purposes of discussion only. The law differs in every jurisdiction, and you should not rely on any opinion except that of an attorney you have retained, who has a professional duty to advise you after being fully informed of all the pertinent facts and who is familiar with the applicable law.