Submitted by Aiken Jacobsen on
Like many cities across California, Sacramento has fallen on tough economic times. Therefore, city officials are looking for ways to bring down costs and balance over-stretched budgets. But what measures are city leaders allowed to take before it has gone too far?
Sacramento is the latest of many cities in California to charge high fees for use of emergency services. If you are not a resident of Sacramento but get injured in a car accident, be prepared for a very expensive ride to the hospital.
Non-residents who require ambulance rides or medical responders will now be charged $495. If the injury is severe enough to require a helicopter airlift, non-residents will be charged an additional $2,275.
The effects of this decision will be widespread considering how many commuters Sacramento sees on a daily basis. We recently posted about how the city has been dubbed the most dangerous area for drivers in the region. The large number of car accidents in the city each year is likely related to the high number of non-resident commuters who pass through each day.
Because of the new "crash tax" a large number of accident victims in Sacramento will now have insult added to injury. What's even worse is the fact that most insurance companies will not cover the cost of the fees.
Consider this scenario. A commuter working late on Friday night starts to head home when he is hit by a drunk driver and is critically injured. He needs to be airlifted to the hospital. Even though the accident was not his fault and he has already suffered greatly, he will be charged several thousand dollars for his use of emergency services.
We have come a long way from the days when local governments agreed to pay for the cost of essential services. This may be an injustice, but for now it is the new reality. Drivers who have been injured in an accident caused by someone else now need quality legal representation more than ever. Otherwise, you may be left holding the bill.
Source: Central Valley Business Times online, "Sacramento adds fees for accident victims," 26 January 2011
