New York City – You Crash & Need Aid, You Pay

ChrisPirillo

  

Starting in 2011, crashing and burning has a price tag in New York City. http://bit.ly/dTT9Yp

by Ron Schenone on 12/12/2010


New York City Fire Department will be implementing a new policy next year. The NYFD will be billing those who are involved in car accidents when the fire department is called. The is meant to relieve some of the cost that is paid for by the taxpayers of the city. Costs will vary from $365 just to respond to the scene for a non-injury accident with no fire, up to $490 for any accident which involves a car fire or injury. These charges will apply to each car that is involved in the accident.
According to a recent article it states that:

“We want to relieve pressure on the taxpayer and place it on those at fault and their insurance,” said Steve Ritea, a spokesman for the FDNY. “Right now if you’re at fault at an accident or a vehicle fire, you get a free ride. And that should not be borne by the taxpayers.”
But according to the rules proposed by the FDNY, the department will bill the “motorist to whom motorist services are provided.”
Mr. Ritea confirmed that the motorist—whether that person is at fault or not—will receive the bill. The bill from the FDNY will include instructions informing motorists that they can refer the bill to their insurance company, he said.
Mr. Ritea said the FDNY will have discretion over whether it bills motorists.
“If we’re talking about an act of God situation, a tree falls on car, then we have discretion, obviously not to bill in those cases,” he said. “If the accident is exceedingly minor, we show up on scene and nobody needs medical assistance and there’s no fire or anything like that, then, we have discretion.”

This is going to turn into a can of worms. First of all, who decides whether the fire department is sent to the scene of the accident? What happens if the fire department shows up and tell them you do not need nor want their services? Why isn’t the person at fault in the accident billed for the entire amount?
What type of procedure will there be in place to protest the charges?
The list of questions can go on forever.
What do you think? Should all cities and towns charge for accidents? Maybe we can have the police charge the victim’s family when a family member is killed? Where does it stop?
Comments welcome.