Hit by a Car? Victims Pay “Crash Tax”

[The Straight Story]

Hit by a Car? Victims Pay “Crash Tax”

As if there wasn’t reason enough already to avoid getting into an automobile accident, motorists now face the risk of being hit with a “crash tax” by local fire departments for responding to their aid—even if they don’t need it and even if the accident wasn’t their fault.

That’s what happened to Cary Feldman, 71, of Chicago, who was rear-ended while driving his motor scooter and wound up on the pavement. Feldman was not seriously injured and didn’t go to the hospital, but that didn’t stop firefighters from showing up briefly and then charging him for their time.

Feldman insisted if anyone should pay, it should be the other driver who hit him. But the other party and their insurance company refused to cover the crash tax (or “resource recovery”), as did Feldman’s own insurer, so he was left with a bill for $200, which he had to pay to avoid damage to his credit rating.

“We're paying taxes for these services,” Feldman told CBS in Chicago. “We don't need to have a second tax….I'm going to call it a scam. Just a way to make money instead of helping people.”

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Hit_by_a_Car__Victims_Pay_Crash_Tax_100907

[indepat]

1. Surely there's something badly wrong here

:shrug:

[rocktivity]

2. He should take the driver to small claims court for reimbursement

It's unconscionable that the driver wasn't billed directly, though his insurance company was.

:mad:
rocktivity

[sandnsea]

3. Damn socialist EMTs anyway

Who needs it. Psssht.

Pay your own way goddammit.

Well, until you have to pay your own way. Then you yell, "I'm a taxpaying citizen", even if you voted against every tax that made the service available in the first place.

[Confusious]

4. Welcome to republicatiopa mr.feldman

Companies don't pay taxes, the rich don't want to pay taxes, and our "leaders" aren't going to make them.

You will be nickeled and dimed into the poor house, along with the rest of the middle class.

[rocktivity]

6. Yeah, welcome to Welcome to Teabag-istan!

:hi:
rocktivity

[napi21]

5. Is this a City thing? I know our FD here in Ga. chargs you if they have to transport you to

the hospital but not if they only come to your house. I know from personal experience. I don't know what they do about hwy accitents, but I have to believe if they charged justfor appearing at the site, there would have been a lot of gripeing and I would have heard about it.

I didn't even know they charged when they transported you until I got a bill. Our FD is paid through our txes and I (foolishly) thought that was part of the services. When we lived in Pgh. Pa we lived in a suburb & had a volunteer FD. All they asked was a $20.00 annual donationfrom each household & any of their services were then [provided to you no charge.