Bus Collides with Train Injuring 10

On the morning of April 26, 2013, a freight train struck a transit bus injuring ten passengers and the driver. The bus was carrying senior citizens and people with developmental disabilities ranging in age from mid 20’s to 92. The accident occurred when the bus entered the crossing and stopped on the tracks. The engineer of the train rung his horn and tried to halt the train, but could not. The bus came to a halt about 20 feet after, but did not overturn.

The accident occurred a little after 8 AM in Evans City, Pittsburgh. Officers are still investigating whether the morning fog was a factor in the crash. The passengers on the bus were around 20 years of age to 92 years-old. Three men and one woman were taken to the hospital to be treated for their wounds.

According to a paramedic supervisor, one victim suffered a serious head injury. Before the crash occurred, the victims were being taken to a nonprofit program that encourages growth and independence for people with special needs.

Bus Accidents Caused by Human Error and Weather Conditions

As of recent times, bus accidents have been occurring quite commonly and leaving devastating effects. Recently, a Texas bus crash left many elderly people injured while a tour bus crash in Oregon took several lives. In many of these cases, weather conditions played a contributing factor.

However, even despite the weather, bus drivers are legally responsible to drive in a manner that is safe for current road conditions. Even if the bus driver is traveling at a speed lower than the legal limit, it may still be too fast for weather conditions. Driving on slick roads or through fog requires bus drivers to be extra cautious as to protect all passengers. If a bus driver fails to do so, the bus driver or bus company can be held liable for injuries suffered by passengers.

Personal Injury Lawsuit

Unfortunately, many victims who are injured in a bus accident must deal with medical treatment and expenses. In some instances, their injuries may even result in lost wages. If you were recently involved in a bus accident that caused significant injury, you should seek legal counsel from an experienced personal injury attorney.

The attorneys at Bond and Taylor will work to earn you monetary compensation for your pain and suffering. Contact us today in order to earn a substantial settlement for your injuries. 

Driver Fatigue Causes Crash that Kills Infant and Two Adults

The crash occurred between a van and a dump truck that took the lives of two adults and one infant. The cause of the trash was driver’s fatigue as the driver of the van fell asleep at the wheel and struck the dump truck. The van was carrying ten people. Of the deceased was a 27 year-old male driver, a 30 year-old female, and a one month-old baby.

Six children in the van were taken to the hospital; four remain to be in critical condition while two are in stable conditions. A 25 year-old female that was in the crash, and mother of the deceased infant, is undergoing surgery. Officials believe that not all the passengers were wearing seat belts as there were more children than there were car seat devices.

Dangers of Driver’s Fatigue

The story described above had many dangerous elements; the first being: driver’s fatigue. Driver’s fatigue is a common cause of car accidents today. Many people suffer from driver’s fatigue when they have lack of sleep, extended work hours, or strenuous work. When drivers are sleepy, they tend to lose focus on the road. Even just the slightest disruption on the road can lead to a fatal accident, like the one described above. In addition, when drivers are sleepy they have slower response times and are less likely to prevent an accident.

Proper Child Seating

Another dangerous factor that exists in the incident described is lack of proper child seating. There were six children and one infant and not all of them were properly seated. As a result, when the accident occurred all were injured and had to receive medical treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

•          Children ages 4 to 7 were less likely to suffer risk by 59% by using a booster seat.
•          Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatality in car crashes by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers ages one to four.

Remember to always place your children in proper seating to prevent the risk of injury when a car accident takes place.

Personal Injury Accident Attorney

Unfortunately, tragic car accidents take place everyday due to a drowsy driver. It is best to practice safe seating when in a vehicle by wearing seat belts and providing booster seats for your children. If you were already involved in a car accident due to a drowsy driver, you should speak to a personal injury attorney immediately. A personal injury attorney may be able to earn you monetary compensation for damages and injuries as a result of the accident. Contact us today. 

Crash Involving Tour Bus Leaves 16 Injured

At around 6 PM on April 13, 2013, a tour bus carrying 15 passengers crashed into a tree. The bus was filled with visitors leaving the Yosemite National Park. Apparently, the bus driver was traveling at an unsafe speed and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was going down a very winding mountain road with sharp curves and came to a stop when it hit a tree. All passengers, including the driver, suffered minor or moderate injuries.

All of the passengers were taken to local nearby hospitals for treatment. Conditions of some of the injured are unknown. Investigations are being done to figure out what other factors may have contributed to the accident. According to officials, alcohol did not contribute to the accident. The bus driver is a 49 year old male from Fremont, California.

Causes of Bus Crashes

As of recently, bus crashes have been occurring quite commonly and injuring and killing many. Last year a bus crashed killed 9 passengers and injured 39. The crash occurred because the driver was driving too fast for current weather conditions. A common factor in both the stories described is the bus driver driving too fast.

Unfortunately, one of the leading causes of bus crashes is human error. Numerous buses crash take place because the bus driver makes a poor decision or fails to pay attention to the road due to drowsiness and fatigue.

Other times, a bus crash can occur due to malfunction of the vehicle and poor brakes and tires. When this occur, it is imperative for those injured to seek legal action for their injuries. Many injuries force victims to seek medical attention or take time off from work to heal. Injuries can not only be physically painful, but financially damaging.

Personal Injury Attorney

If you or someone you know was recently harmed in a bus accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options. A bus driver should drive in a safe manner and under the speed limit. A bus driver should also not be over-worked or fatigued. If a bus driver harmed your life in anyway and caused injury, you should consider filing a personal injury lawsuit. With the help of a personal injury attorney, you may be able to earn monetary retribution for your pain and suffering caused by a bus accident.