Emergency Response Times and Negligence

Sep 05,2019

Within the greater Coachella Valley, each of the nine cities located here bring a variety of unique attributes and characteristics. That being said, you may be surprised to learn that this also includes ambulance response times. Although you would be forgiven for thinking that ambulance services are standardized across the a region or even state, the reality couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, taking the time to better understand this information may ultimately save your life in an emergency situation.

Although a personal injury attorney in Palm Springs could help you find this information, a simple internet search can shed light on just how different the emergency response services for each of the Coachella Valley’s nine cities really are. And, it’s also important to note that the 911 base rate attached to these ambulance services also varies considerably.

Digging Into the Data for Coachella Valley Emergency Services

If you were to drive through the Coachella Valley and make a stop at each of the nine cities fonud here, you would essentially be driving through Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella.

Between these nine cities, there are four primary emergency services providers in operation, those being Riverside County AMR, the Cathedral City Fire Department, Cal Fire Cove Cities, and Cal Fire Indio. If an emergency requiring EMS services occurs in any part of the Coachella Valley, one of these four providers will handle the dispatch.

Once a call has been made for an EMS team, the duration of time it takes for the personnel to arrive onsite is commonly referred to as the ‘turnout time’. According to the most recent data available, average turnout times range anywhere from 05:02 minutes to 07:22 minutes. Even though two minutes may not seem like that much of a difference, an injury lawyer in Palm Springs or virtually anywhere else in the Coachella Valley will tell you just how much of a difference even seconds can make. In the most literal sense of the word, this timing can make the difference between life and death.

Exploring EMS Response Times

Based on current response times, residents of Cathedral City have the fastest EMS service in the Coachella Valley. Here, the average call is answered within 05:02 minutes. The base rate for 911 services is also the second lowest in the Valley, sitting at $1,225.00. Unfortunately, residents of La Quinta and Desert Hot Springs have the longest wait for EMS, approximately 07:22 minutes. Both La Quinta and Desert Hot Springs also share the highest 911 base rate in the Valley of $1,797.88.

Why This Information Is Important

Knowing the average length of time it takes an ambulance to arrive at the scene of an accident in your city will provide you with a basis for comparison in the event that you or someone you know require EMS support in an emergency.

You probably have heard of lawsuits for perceived negligence by medical care providers. In a situation where an EMS team arrived significantly later than expected to an accident, negative consequences may occur for injured parties which wouldn’t have happened otherwise. In the worst of scenarios, individuals may die due to the fact that they didn’t receive treatment fast enough. Although there is no guarantee that negligence can be pinpointed as the cause for these tragedies, individuals have a right to know what they can expect when it comes to EMS standards in their area.

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If you suspect that you or a loved one have experienced hardship due to medical malpractice, contact us today. David Vassalli is one of several attorneys on our team who is fully equipped to manage the hurdles of modern medical malpractice cases.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.