Ambulance Responded to Wrong Address

**ragnro2004** · 09-01-2010, 07:57 PM

My question involves medical malpractice in the state of: MO,

I am not sure if this falls as medical or not, but Father in Law just had a heart attack, and when 911 was called the ambulance came but missed the address and was late by several minutes, during this time he was without oxygen and will most likely be braindead, or have sevear brain damage. It was because he was without oxygen for so long that that caused his brain damage, they were easily able to put a shunt in his heart and get it beating on its own and on a normal rythm. Worst of all for my grandfather in law at the same address they have had to call an ambulance several times and they always showed up at the right address. My Grandmother in Law watched outside as the ambulance took the wrong turn, and she at 72 years ran out after them but could not catch them.

**KeyWestDan** · 09-02-2010, 08:32 PM

You have no standing to do anything.

I doubt any attorney would take this case as any possible damages would be insignificant given the age of the individual and the causation proof of the ambulance delay with a person that old would be non-existant.

I would suggest having the house numbers bigger, better lighting and maybe having an emergency strobe light on the front porch or something.

In addition, many times these types of companies have each ambulance incorporated as a separate corporation and there isn't squat to get out of them, unless the relatives really want an amubulance. That all assumes they win which is not likely.

This will never see a court.

**Mr. Knowitall** · 09-03-2010, 06:02 AM

The first issue is whether your state would allow a claim at all when an ambulance arrives late due to the error of a driver or dispatcher. It appears that the question has not been formally answered by your state's courts, at least at the appellate level.

Quoting Lincoln County Ambulance v. Pac. Employers Ins., 15 S.W.3d 739, 743 (Mo. Ct. App.1998).

Jefferson [Insurance, the provider or Errors and Omissions insurance for an ambulance company] defended the ambulance company against a tort action for negligent delay in providing ambulance services. There was no dispute that the delay was occasioned by miscommunication between the company's radio dispatcher and the ambulance attendants regarding the address to which the ambulance was told to respond to and Jefferson eventually settled the claim. Id.

It is possible that a trial or appellate court would have found that the ambulance company was not liable as a matter of law, had the case been pursued; but the settlement suggests that the insurance company was not confident that it would prevail. I don't see that the issue has since been addressed by the appellate courts, so a delay case appears potentially viable.

The second question is whether a delay of a few minutes can be determined to have played a causative role in the outcome. That would require medical expert analysis and testimony. For an evaluation of the significance of the delay, the administrator of the estate may consider having the case and medical records reviewed by a malpractice lawyer in your state.