Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ambulance hits Oregon cyclist then charges him nearly $2K for a ride to the hospital: lawsuit
NY Post ^ | 11/06/2024 | Natalie O'Neill

Posted on 11/07/2024 4:09:47 AM PST by DFG

Not the best way to drum up business.

An ambulance slammed into a cyclist in Oregon — breaking his nose and smashing his bike — then billed him more than $1,800 for a ride to the hospital, according to a new lawsuit.

William Hoesch, 71, is suing Columbia River Fire & Rescue for nearly $1 million, claiming an ambulance driver for the company left him with the outrageous bill along with permanent injuries and roughly $100,000 in medical expenses, oregonlive.com reported.

Hoesch was pedaling through the tiny town of Rainier, near the Columbia River, in October 2022 when the big red ride plowed into him while trying to make a right turn — crushing him under the wheel of the ambulance, according to the suit, filed on Oct. 24.

The driver, who was going between 2 mph and 10 mph, heard a thump then stopped and rushed Hoesch to a hospital, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in Columbia County.

The crash left him covered in blood, destroyed his bicycle and caused him long-term injuries such as “decreased range of motion” and “reduced grip,” the suit states.

To add insult to injury, the ambulance company later sent him a bill for $1,862 for giving him a lift to the hospital, Hoesch claims.

Hoesch’s is now demanding $997,000 for pain and suffering along with payment for medical bills, oregonlive.com reported.

Columbia River Fire & Rescue declined to comment to the outlet.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: oregon

1 posted on 11/07/2024 4:09:47 AM PST by DFG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: DFG

I would lay even money that the cyclist has some culpability in causing this accident... likely the ambulance passed him, then slowed to turn right and the cyclist rode up into the driver’s blind spot while the driver was turning. Now he seeks “compensation.”


2 posted on 11/07/2024 4:23:52 AM PST by Tudorfly (All things are possible within the will of God.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Was business slow?


3 posted on 11/07/2024 4:39:06 AM PST by larrytown (A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Then they graduate...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

I’d call that a fast response. EMS has a duty to act. Which they did. And you get a ride, you get a bill.


4 posted on 11/07/2024 4:41:00 AM PST by BillyBonebrake
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tudorfly

I think you’re right. My hunch is that the cyclist was illegally crossing the road.


5 posted on 11/07/2024 4:46:35 AM PST by brooklin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Interesting business model.


6 posted on 11/07/2024 4:46:58 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FreedomPoster

That was my thought, too.


7 posted on 11/07/2024 4:55:57 AM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: DFG
So....if you are involved in an accident or even an incident at home, you get a bill for the ambulance.

Does insurance cover such things?

8 posted on 11/07/2024 5:01:55 AM PST by Churchillspirit (Pray for President Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

This is common misunderstanding by people. If a EMT, Paramedic, nurse or doctor hurts you that doesn’t mean your medical fees and bills go away. That is resolved in the court case you file. It is just the way that bean counters balance the books.


9 posted on 11/07/2024 5:05:14 AM PST by Pol-92064
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BillyBonebrake

“And you get a ride, you get a bill.”

Don’t local taxpayers fund fire and EMS? I know we do.

L


10 posted on 11/07/2024 5:10:10 AM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind; Tudorfly; brooklin

With that said, I think tudorfly may have nailed it. Urban bicyclists are inherently unwise people, if you ask me.


11 posted on 11/07/2024 5:31:03 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Churchillspirit

Mine does.


12 posted on 11/07/2024 5:35:46 AM PST by Sirius Lee (Trump/Vance 2024 or GFY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Sounds like vertical integration.


13 posted on 11/07/2024 5:47:22 AM PST by caddie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Was the ambulance driver charged for leaving the scene of an accident?


14 posted on 11/07/2024 5:56:33 AM PST by KrisKrinkle (c)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: conservative_cyclist; ten18; Twotone; VeryFRank; Clinging Bitterly; Rio; aimhigh; Hieronymus; ...
If you would like more information about what’s happening in Oregon, please FReepmail me. Please send me your name by FReepmail if you want to be on this list.
15 posted on 11/07/2024 6:20:55 AM PST by Twotone ( What's the difference between a politician & a flying pig? The letter "F.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tudorfly

A less-biased article with more detail:

https://local12.com/news/nation-world/ambulance-hit-bicycle-crash-bill-hospital-drove-ride-fee-healthcare-health-care-money-cost-charged-charge-lawsuit-sue-court-trial-bike-cycle-cyclist-emt-emergency-injured-injury-hurt-collision

Bottom line: progressives in the state have all but given cyclists & pedestrians free reign over the roadways with few exceptions. Absent multiple witnesses or camera footage, even if the cyclist or pedestrian is in the wrong they have right of way. Worse, the state even granted cyclists freedom to ignore traffic control devices.

progressives have created this situation at the expense of safety simply to kowtow to their extreme leftist supporters and garner support via yet another topic which drives a wedge between rational people and those on the left.

I hazard to predict that not only will the cyclist win - likely by settlement - but that his attorneys secure a hefty punitive award as well.

Sadly, even with their defeat this week nothing will ever change in oregon until those on the right take it directly to leftists, just as maxine waters crowed a few years ago.

Most republicans in oregon have no cajones, save for a few driving around with American flags on their trucks (not enough) and a handful running around demonstrating stupid. Note: Out of disgust, years ago I left the party I joined under Reagan because they consistently caved to the left and stabbed their supporters in the back. “Backplate” indeed.


16 posted on 11/07/2024 6:58:32 AM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DFG
I like the many Freepers responding that "it has to be the biker's fault".

Apparently, nobody out there as heard of the right-hand mirror and its usefulness in determining if the lane is clear. Since the law requires that we who do ride bikes, ride in the same direction as the cars, it is necessary that cars and trucks use their mirrors before turning.

I always assume that the vehicle operator aren't looking for me, so I ever trust the car/truck drivers with my life, but that's just me.

17 posted on 11/10/2024 9:05:32 AM PST by Chainmail (You can vote your way into Socialism - but you will have to shoot your way out.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson