According to a report from KCTV, the City of Kansas City has rejected a work injury settlement that would have paid more than $900,000 to a now-terminated firefighter who was at the wheel of a crash that killed three people. Local officials stress that the money should be used for safety training. Here, our Kansas City trucking accident attorney discusses the case in more detail.
Three People Were Killed in a Tragic Crash Involving a Fire Truck in Westport
In December of 2021, Kansas City firefighter Dominic Biscari was driving a firetruck. The lights and sirens were activated at the time. He ran a red light in the City’s Westport neighborhood. Unfortunately, the firetruck collided with an oncoming vehicle, pushed that vehicle into a nearby pedestrian, and struck an adjacent building. That structure partially collapsed. Tragically, the crash killed three people: Jennifer San Nicolas, Michael Elwood, and Tami Knight. Mr. Biscari was charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter. He later accepted an Alford plea and was sentenced to serve three years of probation.
The City of Kansas City Rejected the a Proposed Workers’ Comp Seattle
Mr. Biscari and the firefighters’ union had filed for $915,000 in workers’ compensation benefits related to the injuries that he sustained in the crash. However, The Kansas City Council has now formally rejected the proposed settlement. In doing so, Mayor Quinton Lucas emphasized that public funds should not be used in a way that fails to reflect accountability.
There Have Been Policy Changes Following the Terrible Truck Accident
The fatal firetruck accident led to calls for change. There have been some significant policy reforms. Notably, the Kansas City Fire Department revised its emergency response driving policy in the aftermath of the crash. The updated directive now requires a complete stop at red lights, stop signs, and other hazardous intersections—even during emergency responses. The department also clarified that sirens and lights do not grant automatic right-of-way.
Firetruck Accident Claims are Notoriously Complex
For victims and their families, firetruck accident claims are notoriously complex. To start, these claims involve the suing of a government entity. That triggers issues related to sovereign immunity. Many states—including both Missouri and Kansas—have specialized rules and regulations in place for crashes involving emergency service vehicles. Beyond that, it is also true that firetrucks responding to emergencies are often legally permitted to violate traffic laws. However, their ability to do so is by no means absolute. Truck drivers must exercise due regard for the safety of others. They can be held liable for a crash caused by negligence.
Set Up a Free Case Review With a Top-Tier Kansas City Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer
At House Law LLC, our Kansas City truck accident attorney has the professional experience you can trust. If you or your family member was hurt in a collision with a firetruck, we are here to help. Call us now or contact us online for a free, no-obligation case review. With a law office in Kansas City, our firm handles truck accident cases in Missouri and Kansas.
Tags: brain injury, personal injury, traumatic brain injury
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