you were wrong for not stopping.

the firefighter was wrong for kicking your door. you didnt cause any damage, he did so in the end it seems like the fire department needs to pay for your door, and conduct proper traffic hand signals. if you want someone to stop you put your arm straight out to show the sign of stop. or you yell really loud and put both hands up. you dont just swing your arms all crazy like.

 

I think the best thing to do at this point is smoke weed everyday...

But on a serious note, you shouldn't have passed the firefighter and he shouldn't have kicked your car. In a heated situation, people make rash and unfortunately, dumb decisions, which is clearly the case here.

I'd just move on with it and call it a loss... It sucks for you, though, and I sympathize with your situation. But at the same time, that firefighter probably was trying to tell you something and you didn't intepret his body language correctly, so, wrong place at the wrong time...

 

"You must obey any traffic direction, order, or signal by a traffic or police officer or a fire fighter even if it conflicts with existing signs, signals, or laws. It is against the law to follow within 300 feet of any emergency vehicle which is answering an emergency call."

California handbook page 52

 

And where does it say that using excessive force is okay? There are right and wrong ways to deal with things. (I'm not defending one side but i think both sides are wrong but the firefighter should pay for the damages and the original poster got away with a huge fine)

 

there was a new law put into effect I think in Jan. this year that if there is an emergency vehicle on the side of the road you have to give them a 1 lane buffer zone if its safe and legal to do so.

you should have stopped (since he knows more than you) but he also shouldn't have kicked your car. If theres any damage make him pay for it to get fixed

 

You were endangering the safety of the emergency personnel and everyone else there, this in turn could of potentially escalated the scene

What he did was wrong, but you ****ed up!

The last thing they need is someone else injured because you "thought it was clear"

 

so were you the first car passing the scene? if so, maybe he wanted you to stop so all the traffic behind you comes to a stop too. you start moving, everyone behind will start moving. not saying it's right for them to kick your car, but like what everyone said, why didn't you stop since you were only going 5-10mph. being late for work isn't an excuse, if you get in an accident you won't flew the scene because you were late for work. if someone kicks my car loud enough to cause a dent while i'm driving, first thing i want to do is stop and see the damage done.

 

both were wrong and I would call the fire fighter's location and talk to him about it. he should have given clear signals(like they get trained to do) and should not have kicked your car.

he damaged your car, and there is absolutely no reason for that what so ever.

 

good ol sunnyvale. where the police and fire fighters switch places every couple years (if im not mistaken)
most all them are asshats.....

u should have stoped when he flapped like a bird
he should have got ur lisence plate and sent ticket instead of kicking.
that kick to ur door could cost him his career as an asshat.. i mean fireman/cop

 

Had the firefighter been a carjacker with a knife, you would have my full support and sympathy.

If you were rolling by close enough for a firefighter to kick your car, you were too close to be going by without specific instructions to do so.

Someday you may need one of these guys to put their life on the line for you. And they will. Maybe you'll have a little more respect for the job they do.

 

you did not follow the direction he gave you, but he is not right to kick your door. you should have get his engine number or atleast get some info so you can track back to him.

 

"if he would have raised his hand like a normal person with his palm open and have been facing me i would have stopped"

especially when it was said that no eye contact was established...you said his back was turned to you...thats an automatic no go so thats why he got all pissed

 

Kicking someones car is not a responsible action, just to get that out of the way.

Firefighters, Police, and Ambulance personnel have a position of responsibility for a reason. They are RESPONSIBLE for keeping the public safe, and even saving their lives. As part of the public, YOU need to pay attention to what they tell you, even if it is not the PROPER signal. You knew damned well what he wanted you to do, but you are playing ignorant.

As a few others have said, you should just suck it up. If you had stopped afterwards and caused a scene it is very likely you would have spent a decent amount of time in the back of a CHP car while your freshly dented car was towed away.

It is amazing how selfish people can be. Imagine yourself in their position. Responding to an emergency call is stressful enough, and then you get there. You have traffic EVERYWHERE, people who ignore you and endanger you, themselves, and the victims. Radios, people freaking out, and THEN you still have a job to accomplish.

Saying that you know the law is a joke...you have clearly demonstrated this to us. If there is one thing worse than people who dont know the laws, it is people who dont and think that they do.

Just to show some goodwill, I will help. Take the time and location of the accident (mile markers would help), and call the CHP station. I am not sure which agency would run the Emergency Command Center in that area, as it is determined by all kinds of jurisdiction and budget stuff etc. However, the CHP should have enough info to point you in the right direction. They may even have a list of the resources on scene. Just be very nice and be vague if they ask why your car was damaged.

Regardless of the circumstances, Fire Departments dont need the bad publicity...even if that firefighter had been up all day and all night saving the lives of jackasses like you. Just admit that you were wrong, suck it up, and focus on getting it fixed. Remember that without proof or witnesses, they can tell you to go **** up a rope if you are not polite.

 

well said

 

well said