Attorney
Have you had to contact 911 recently over a fire or medical emergency? Shockingly, due to a malfunctioning emergency responders system, D.C. fire trucks and ambulances have reached their slowest response times in nearly two years. 
According to the Washington Post, the computer system used by D.C. fire trucks and ambulances has malfunctioned almost twice daily since it was installed last fall. Because of the issues, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) told the District Council that her administration would begin work to repair the system and it would deploy emergency vehicles to more areas to compensate for issues.
The news about the system errors became public after a toddler choked on a grape in Northwest Washington recently—in the case, paramedics, just blocks from the home, were not dispatched and a unit located about a mile away was sent, taking almost seven minutes to arrive before the boy died. The paramedics who were closer to the incident were reportedly not logged into the computer system properly and did not receive the call.
Aside from issues with logging into systems, emergency workers have said that “beginning in late October [2014, they] have routinely lost their 4G network signals as the vehicles traverse the city,” according to the Post.
Talking to an Attorney about an Incident Where Emergency Responders System Malfunctioning
It is sad that people are suffering because of faulty technology implemented by the District. Keep in mind, if you are involved in a vehicle accident, pedestrian accident, slip-and-fall, fire or any other mishap, time can play a huge role in the severity of your injuries.
Aside from death, the failure of emergency officials to respond in a timely manner to an accident can result in complications like brain damage for a victim. Now that the district has acknowledged that there is a problem with response times, if you believe that you were harmed in an accident due to the widespread problems faced by emergency responders, it may be in your best interest to speak to an attorney.
Remember, an attorney can investigate your case and determine if negligence on behalf of the District led to additional pain and suffering, or possibly the death of your loved one. Aside from holding the District liable, you may also be able to hold the party or person responsible for your accident liable for your injuries or the death of your loved one.
For more information about personal injury law, you can visit our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P.
Washington, D.C. Injury Attorneys
Sponsored by: Attorney Thomas McWeeny