Complaint Review: Columbus City Fire Department

 On Friday, October 16, 2020, I was en route to 16 W Long. St. Columbus, to drop a client off (Rachael Patterson, witness, 614-490-0611), for her therapy appointment. I turned onto Wall St., a one way alley, and headed North toward W Long St. Rachael, my client, was in the backseat. As I was in a conversation with Rachael, I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed an emergency unit coming up behind me with lights on. I did not hear sirens. I advised my client that I had an emergency unit coming up behind me and that I needed to get over. In that one way alley, there was a line of cars against the left side of that building, so I had to get to end of alley to get over and out of the way. I pulled in front of those vehicles at the end of Wall St. and corner of W Long St. as close to the curb as I could get, to get out of their way.

The Fire truck approached from behind me and was making a left onto W Long St., when my client yelled at me and stated they were going to hit me. I pulled forward, then tried to turn left onto W Long St. as quick as I could, as to not get hit by the fire truck. But the driver of the fire truck (Mike Martin), took the corner too close and struck the passenger front side of my vehicle. The fire truck kept going, then pulled in front of 16 W Long St. on an emergency call they were responding to. I pulled up behind the fire truck and put my hazzards on. The driver of the fire truck (Mike Martin), exited the fire truck and entered the building. I got out of my car and my client advised me that she needed to het to her appointment, but to give her name and number, as for my witness, as to what happened. 

I waved my hands at a fireman that was near, who came over to me. I advised him, that the driver of the fire truck had struck my vehicle. He told me that he would go in and advise the driver as to what happened. The driver (Mike Martin), then came out of the building and I explained what happened. Mike advised me that he didn't even know that he had hit me. They advised me that police were on the way, but that it was shift change, they didn't know how long it would be, before a police unit could arrive. I advised my work of the accident, at that time. I then took pictures of my vehicle damage and pictures of fire truck. We could not find any damage on the fire truck. (Fire Truck #9). We then started to exchange insurance and license information, the fireman advised me that they have 'their own report', to fill out.

Mike started to fill the top portion of his report, but told me that my insurance company should contact the Columbus City Fire Dept. for insurance and damages. Mike advised me this was his first accident report, that he was unsure of what to put on it. He didn't fill out the two sections that were underneath top section of that report, as to what had happened yet, but was going to finish filling out at the station. I asked if I could at least take a picture of the report for my work and insurance, because I needed that for my insurance and work.  He stated that I could. I then got a picture of that report. As he was asking questions, as to how to fill report out, an emergency unit SUV pulled up. I was advised that, that was their Captain. The Captain walks towards me, as I was advising him as to what happened and he walks right past me towards his fireman. He didn't even ask me if I was Ok. He started talking with his fireman and started taking pictures of my vehicle damage then started looking at the firetruck. He couldn't find damage either.

I then was able to give my statement as to what happened, when he stated police were not coming. I told him that I needed a police report taken for my insurance and work and he stated, they weren't coming, that it's shift change, who knows when they would get there.  He then took Mike with him towards Wall St. alley, so Mike could explain what had happened. When they walked back to where I was standing, he advised me that they fill out their own reports, not police reports. I told him again, I'm not sure what to do, but that I wanted a police report, or to finish filling out the report that I had taken a picture of, so I could have a picture of a completed report, before I left, for insurance and work purposes. I advised him that I have policy and proceedure that I follow as well and that a police report was one of them. He stated again, it was shift change, that he didn't know how long they would take to get there, (as to hold up that fire truck on scene). I then advised him, that I needed to call my work again and let them know, that they didn't want to call the police for a report and see what they wanted me to do.

My work advised me to get a police report, that , that was my right to have one.  He then took his walkie and radioed to his dispatch, stating he needed a police unit dispatched. They asked him what for and he told them he just needed one sent. The dispatcher must have asked him again for the purpose of a police unit, when the Captain rolled his eyes and told them that he needed a police unit for an accident. They asked for what accident, he held the walkie to his side, then finally, as if he was put out, he stated, with a fire truck, (like he didn't want to tell them why). The whole time that the Captain was there, he was not professional, and also made me feel as if he was trying to discredit me, as to what took place. Never once asked me if I was ok, or even if my passenger was ok. He did not have reguard for my safety or passenger. Just seemed more upset that one of his fireman hit a civilian and he didn't know exactly what to do.

When the police came, we gave our statements, police gave report number. 200782607. I then told Mike and the other fireman about the Captain's behavior and they stated he was new as Captain and they thought his behavior was not professional and didn't know why he was acting that way as well. Policy and Proceedure of an accident requires me to complete a drug screen after an accident, in which, I did. 

I then called my insurance company, (Leslie, Campbell Insurance agency (740) 345-1916) and advised her of the accident. She told me she would contact the Columbus City Fire Department and my insurance carrier through Campbell agency, which is Progressive. After she contacted them, she called me back, she advised me that they said that, I needed to get 2 estimates of the damage, auto insurance declaration page, showing deductible amount and policy limits, vehicle registration, current vehicle mileage, photos of vehicle damage, a statement from myself and my client, witness Rachael P., as to what happened, crash report number and claimant statement form for City of Columbus. So, I did all of this. I got an estimate from Three C auto body, in which estimate was $2,951.11 and Fine Line auto body, which was, $2,423.82. I even went to the bank for a notary to sign and stamp my claimant statement form. I did everything they asked me to do. 

I then get a phone call from my insurance carrier, Progressive, who advised me that City of Columbus only wants to pay my deductible, which is $500.00, but that my insurance is supposed to pay the rest. The reason for this, being that the firetruck was on an emergency call, that they are not required to pay anything else. Then my insurance company advises me that my coverage was not written up correct, for what my job description is, that they want me to do a "walk around video", of my car and that they would send a check minus deductible. (After I had already got 2 estimates from reputable car repair companies) They advised me that at first, they weren't even going to cover my damage, because the policy was not written up correctly, (in which Leslie, at Campbell insurance agency out of Newark, Ohio, apologized that she thought she had the right coverage for me at the time, but that I was covered) but that they had "talked it over", and are going to cover a "walk around", and not cover what my original estimates, from Fine Line auto body and Three Cs auto body, minus deductible, then send me remaining amount.  Not cool, I just got 2 perfectly good written estimates that they asked for in the begining.

I then contacted a Captain that I know at another Fire station in Columbus, who advised me to call Columbus Mayors office, in which I did and got a voicemail. I received a call back the next day, in which they gave me another number to call, which turned out to be Geneva Christensen, from Columbus City Fire purchasing expediter. That same Captain told me to call channel 6 news and report this because the City of Columbus Fire Department is shiesty and to see what rights I do have. He explained that, that is why we ALL carry insurance, for this purpose and try to get to the bottom of this. 

My insurance Company should not be paying A Dime! Not even the deductible, let alone doing a "walk around" and only wanting to pay for a video of damage!  Then paying my damages, from a video, less deductible? That's what insurance is for, that's why we all pay it.  Even if they were on an emergency call, at the point that the fire truck was in the alley, I heard No Sirens, only seen lights. That's what even got my attention in the rear view mirror in the first place. My client heard no sirens either. This was not my fault, my police report shows I was not at fault. How are they not responsible to pay for my damages, with having 2 written estimates from reputable repair companies. My cars value is worth less now, as a result of this. I never once claimed that I was "hurt", in this incident, only wanted them to fix my car damage. Yet, there are millions of people out there, that claim false claims and wonder why insurance premiums are so high. Insurance companies like having your payment, but when it comes to paying out, you gotta jump through their hoops and even then, you don't get what is due you to fix your vehicle. That's why we pay premiums every month. 

I did not cause this accident. I just want my car damage paid for and there shouldn't be even one dime out of my pocket or my insurance companies pocket! That's what paying for coverage is for.  And if for some reason, it has to come from my insurance, they should be required to pay out on one of the estimates that you give, not a "walk around video".  

Thank you so much for reading this, I appreciate you, just want to know what my rights are and the next steps I should take in regards to this accident with the Columbus City Fire Department.