Bus Accident Lawyer

At least seven tourists from the Czech Republic were killed and a further 44 tourists injured in a recent bus accident on a major motorway in Zagreb, Croatia, authorities said.

The horrific bus accident occurred at approximately 4am around 200 miles south of Zagreb, Croatia’s capital. The tour bus was en route to the central Adriatic beachside city Split, and the accident happened on the major highway connected the capital to the coastal town.

It is unclear as to the exact circumstances of the crash. The Croatian state television news broadcast, however, said that the bus smashed through the heavy steel barriers separating the southbound and northbound sections of the highway before overturning and lying on its side in the opposite lane, close to a tunnel.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described the incident, saying that the bus appeared to start swaying back and forth on the highway seconds before the driver appeared to lose control and smash through the barriers.

The first photographs taken of the scene of the accident show a terrible picture of burned, twisted remains of the tour bus lying on its side on the highway, with multiple bodies scattered across the pavement, covered in white sheets. According to the news report, one of the seven killed is a child.

Most of the 44 tourists who were injured in the accident were taken by ambulance to the nearby town of Gospic where they were hospitalized and are being treated for minor injuries. Three passengers were seriously injured, including two children, and were airlifted to Zagreb by helicopter for treatment.

According to doctor Marika Vrkljan Iliejevska, a doctor at Gospic General Hospital, those that were hospitalized in Gospic do not have serious injuries and are mostly being treated for fractures of the limbs or mild to moderate concussions.

The highway linking Zagreb and Spitz was closed to all traffic due to the accident, and workers remain on the scene clearing the debris. The cause of the accident is still unknown, and an investigation into the incident has been opened.

If the accident was caused by a mechanical error in the bus, or as a result of negligence on the part of the driver or the bus company, those that were injured in the accident and the families of those that were killed may be liable to open a lawsuit against the responsible parties. A lawsuit may be used to claim for damages caused in the accident.

An Indianapolis family is appealing to the state to institute a law requiring all school buses to have seat belts for each passenger, following last month’s fatal school bus crash that killed 2 people, including a 5 year old girl.

The tragic accident occurred when a Lighthouse Charter school bus smashed into the pillar of a railroad bridge. Two people died instantly in the crash, including the bus driver Thomas Spencer, and a Donasty Smith, a 5 year old girl. Several other children were thrown out of the bus and were injured. Michael Watkins, an 8 year old attending the same school as Donasty, was one of the children who was injured.

Watkins’ family last week filed a lawsuit against the state of Indiana, claiming that their son’s injuries were caused by a lack of seat belts on the bus. After the bus smashed into the concrete railroad bridge pillar, Michael Watkins was thrown out of his seat and into the front part of the bus. He sustained serious injuries including a fractured femur, and had to have orthopedic surgery and a metal road and screws inserted into his leg to correct the damage.

Michael’s mother Natasha stresses the importance of having seat belts on buses – “I don’t put them in my car and not buckle them up or use child safety. So I feel the same should go on our school buses.” Natasha’s attorney believes that it is common sense for school buses to be required to have seat belts, as all other cars and passenger vehicles in the state must be equipped with seat belts.

Currently, only six states in the United States mandate seat belts on buses. However, the topic is a controversial one, and not everyone is convinced that seat belts are the answer to saving lives caused by bus accidents. Officials with the National Association for Pupil Transportation claim that there is no evidence that seat belts will prevent injuries occurring in roll-over accidents and side-impact accidents, and very little crash testing has been done on buses in general. Without evidence of benefit, it is difficult to make a case against the state to make seat belts on buses mandatory.

The mother of Donasty Williams who was killed in the accident has also filed a lawsuit, against the bus company running the school bus, Miller Transportation. According to Williams’ attorney, Donasty’s death occurred as a result of negligence on the part of the bus company, for not ensuring that the children were adequately secured. Williams’ family is also calling for seat belts on school buses across the country.

A horrific bus accident in the Xiapu County of Nginde City in China has left at least 17 dead and 28 injured, 3 critically. The long distance bus had more than 50 people on board when it plunged off the expressway into a ravine in East China’s Fuijian Province on June 20^th.

The accident occurred at around 2am on Wednesday morning when the bus driver lost control and swerved off the expressway, overturning and falling down a 50m drop into a ravine. Local authorities, including the secretary of the Xiapu County Committee of the Communist Party of China, have confirmed the details of the accident and have assured family members that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash will be undertaken.

The bus was travelling from the city of Wuxi in the east China province of Jiangsu to Xiamen city at the time of the accident. There were two children on board the bus, both of whom survived the accident.

17 of the passengers on the bus were killed instantly in the accident, while 28 other passengers were injured, three of them seriously. Local policeman, firefighters and medical authorities were on the scene within minutes to launch a rescue operation and extract trapped passengers from the wreckage. The injured passengers were transported to local hospitals and are currently receiving treatment. According to local authorities, the next of kin of the deceased and injured passengers have been informed and their identities have been confirmed.

It is unclear as to what exactly caused the accident. Eye witnesses claim that the bus simply veered off the expressway, presumably after the driver lost control. According to local authorities, a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident is currently underway and the surviving passengers and their families will be notified if a cause for the crash is found.

There could be many causes for a tragic bus accident such as this one. If the driver was found to have been driving negligently, then he could be held liable for the deaths and injuries caused. The bus company itself may also have some liability as they have a responsibility to their passengers to get them to their destinations safely. The investigation into the incident will have to determine whether the bus had passed recent safety tests and was roadworthy.  If this was not the case, then the passengers on the bus and the families of those who passed away may have reason to lay a lawsuit against the bus company or bus driver.

Preliminary results from the investigation into the recent Bedore Bus Tours accident has shown that a faulty tire may have been at fault. The accident killed two people and left 35 passengers injured, four critically. The tragic event occurred on the I-390, 55 miles southeast of Rochester, NY, when a tire blew out on a passenger tour bus that was headed to Niagra Falls. The tour bus was owned by New York based bus company, Bedore Tours.

Recent investigations into the accident have found that a tire blow out was the cause of the tragedy. According to the bus driver, 58 year old John Dinardo, he lost control after his front tire blew out on the I-390. A spokesperson for Bedore bus company claims that the front tires on the bus were still new, having just been replaced a few months ago. Initial findings of the investigation into the accident support the driver’s claims that a front tire blow out caused the accident.

If the accident was indeed caused by a defective tire, then the tire manufacturer needs to be held accountable for the deaths and injuries resulting from the bus crash. Further investigations need to be conducted to determine whether the driver or the Bedore bus company also had a role to play in the accident.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have so far revealed that the tour bus had passed its last inspection, conducted on June 28^th, and had no history of safety issues or mechanical problems. Bedore Tours has not had a bus accident for the last two years.

According to the NY Police Department, the bus plunged off the road and came to rest in a wooded area between the south and north lanes of Interstate 390 at around 4.16 pm. After hitting several trees, the bus fell over onto its side. The two passengers who were killed were sitting directly behind the driver and were not wearing seatbelts – tour buses in New York are not required to have seat belts for passengers. All the passengers on the bus were from India, and participating in a vacation tour of the United States.

It is unclear at this stage whether a lawsuit will be filed against Bedore Tours or the tire manufacturers. Bedore Tours is currently insured for bodily claims by National Interstate Insurance Company, which may decide to pay damages for injuries incurred in the accident if Bedore is found to be at fault.

Recently, the National Transportation Safety Board released documents and presented its final hearing on the New York bus crash case. According to officials, the driver, Ophadell Williams was under a spell of fatigue and drowsiness while he was driving a speedy bus. Records state that instead of resting on his time off, he was continuously talking on the phone and would end up dozing or sleeping while on duty.
On March 12th, 2011, the bus was returning from an overnight trip in Mohegan Sun Casino to Manhanttan’s Chinatown. The crash happened in Bronx during the wee hours of the morning and according to surviving witnesses, Williams fell asleep while driving. He did not try to brake or steer the bus away from the edge and keep it on the highway. As a result, a tragic accident occurred that could have been prevented. The bus hit the guardrail, rolled sideways and crashed into an overhead sign post. The object cut through the middle body of the bus, killing affected passengers instantly.
Taking the bus on for 78 miles/hour and that too in a sleepy state, Ophadell Williams was deliberately playing with the lives of people on board. According to Deborah A.P Hersman, chairman of safety board, “Together, fatigue and speed are an especially lethal combination.” The accident could have been avoided had the driver practiced a proper routine instead of playing with his health and eventually with the lives of people he had been responsible for.
Ironically, not only was the driver responsible for such a mishap, but also the company that hired him. They did not take any action against him even though he had not maintained a proper track of his driving logs and did he follow safety controls. Ophadell Williams survived the accident but 17 people out of the 32 passengers were killed while the rest suffered serious injuries. Despite the driver’s licens e being suspended eight times and being dismissed from other bus companies, World Wide decided to hire him without performing accurate background checks.
In his defence, Williams claimed that he lost control because of another speeding truck coming up behind. Investigators were not able to verify this testimonial as per evidences, there were no trucks traveling near the crash scene.
If you or a loved one has been affected by a tragic accident as such, then it is pertinent you seek the help of an attorney immediately. Experienced experts like Fitts and Zehl can guide you through the process and help you claim compensation/treatment expenses from the responsible party.

More than 25 million children travel in more than 4 million school buses every morning in the US. However, according to statistics, there is an estimate of more than 17,000 children landing in emergency rooms due to bus accidents on a yearly basis. A number of these accidents are caused when boarding or stepping off the bus and in even in cases where kids slip and get hurt either because of a sudden halt or because of rushing with each other.

Types of School Bus Accidents

Accidents usually occur in situations where the driver comes to an abrupt stop or drives at a high speed because of time constraints and in order to proceed with a legal case, it is very necessary to understand the complications of a situation. Bus accidents are categorized in four syllables.

• Front end/head on collision: Front ends of two vehicles collide
• Rear end collisions: One vehicle crashes into the rear end of the other
• Left Side Impact/Right Side Impact: When one side of the vehicle faces severe damage
• Non-Collisions: Accidents that occur when the bus suddenly halts and causes passengers to fall forward with a force.

If your child is a victim to a school bus accident, you must approach a law firm like Fitts Zehl who will analyze the situation and guide you to filing a case.

Your Legal Rights as a Parent

Parents must immediately consult an attorney specializing in accidents and understand their legal rights. You have the following rights that you must practice in case of an injury or death because of an accident:

• The bus driver is responsible for keeping passengers safe and if the situation claims that he could have prevented the tragedy, he will be held responsible for not being careful enough.
• The family of the victim can file the accused for their actions and claim compensation for the incurred damages.
• If you lose a child because of a school bus accident, you are entitled to filing a criminal case against those responsible.
• You need to immediately start processing with legal actions because the law has a time limit that you must follow. If you cross that limit, you will not be able to proceed further with the case.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a bus accident, contact the experienced Bus Accident Injury Lawyers at Fitts Zehl, LLP for a free consultation: (800) 569-2776.

March 2011, a bus crash is reported in New Brunswick New Jersey, claiming the lives of one passenger, and the driver of the bus, as a result of the wreck five passengers were taken to area hospitals all five are listed in critical condition. As more reports come in about the deadly New Jersey Bus wreck, it is believed that a tire blowout caused this deadly wreck.

While eyewitnesses at the scene report that the bus drove onto the median, and then struck an over pass support, and suddenly crashed into an embankment located on the right side of the road. When the crash occurred the bus driver was thrown through the windshield, the passenger that died as a result of the bus wreck, died after being transported to the Hospital.

The company who owned the bus, Super Luxury tours Incorporated, is located in Pennsylvania, the company Super Luxury Tours has been taken off the highways  as a result of the bus crash in New Brunswick New Jersey. Further reports reveal that the Federal Motor carrier Safety Administration has taken permission from the Super Luxury Tours Company to operate, their tour business as a result of the deadly New Jersey Bus wreck.

Those who are injured on bus accidents each year are climbing into the thousands, in addition there are at least sixteen fatalities related to bus wrecks each year according to the new statistical information as it was reported in 2011. With the growing concern about safety while traveling on a bus is constantly being evaluated to protect those while traveling on a passenger bus, it offers little consolation for those who have loved ones that died as a result of a wreck while traveling on a coach bus.

When injured on a coach bus it is important to know your legal rights, and with the help of a qualified attorney you can sort out all of the legalities as they pertain to you. There are some companies who own these buses that will rush to get you to settle any medical expenses or lost work time, soon after the wreck, in an attempt to save them from having to further compensate you for damages.

Remember the bus company may seem legitimate with their kind gesture, but do not sign anything nor settle for anything without first contacting a lawyer, this is a mistake that can cost you for the rest of your life, as some medical conditions related to an injury, can seem alright at the moment, but can change quickly with certain activities.

A church bus wreck that occurred on February 21^st 2011, claims the life of one, while injuring thirteen others was reported in California, as the bus went over the side of the road, colliding with an SUV. The accident occurred in the mountains making the rescue efforts difficult for the emergency crews to get to the victims.

There were a total of ten that were injured and were taken to Loma Linda Hospital, among the ten injured were five children, as reports come in one passenger was in critical condition, four of the passengers were in serious condition, and the rest were in fair condition.

Three of the passengers were air lifted to Arrowhead Hospital in Colton, as later reports reveal that one of the passengers transported to Arrowhead Hospital was in critical condition, and one was in stable condition, and no report could be given on the third passenger.

The church bus involved was transporting teenager’s home from a weekend church retreat, a church volunteer was driving the bus at the time of the accident.

While the accident is being investigated, it is unclear what caused the bus wreck. Assuming the driver of the bus to be one of rich character, while volunteering to assist with transporting children home from a church retreat, overshadows thoughts that he could have been negligent at the time of the wreck.

We must consider the facts as they apply to everyone, and the driver of the church bus still should be investigated for driving under the influence of a medication, any health problems that could have contributed to the deadly bus crash, in addition to speeding, falling asleep behind the wheel, being distracted, as all of these issues still pertain to the church bus driver, the same as they would to anyone else.

Knowing the legal rights of the passengers of the church bus and how those rights may be viewed differently due to the affiliation with a church, means the services of a skilled attorney who specializes in passenger bus related accidents is needed. In order to answer questions about how the laws would apply to a bus wreck causing severe injury, or loss of life, when the bus is affiliated with a church.

Regardless of the bus driver’s affiliation with a Church, should it be discovered laterthat he was negligent at the time of the deadly bus wreck, the same rules of the road need to apply to this case as well.

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Parents assume when they allow their children, to ride a school bus to and from school that their children are safe, and should there be an accident involving a school their children will be protected due to safety standards that are in place. When parents see the news about school bus wrecks, they lose their sense of security.

March 12 2012, an Indianapolis school bus accident involving a school bus crashing into a support pillar of a train bridge, caused the death of the bus driver, Thomas Spencer the II, and a five year old child, Donasty Smith, along with the injuries of ten other students, two of the injured students listed in critical condition, following the school bus wreck.

September 27 2008, a school bus crash in Indiana, involving a dump truck, claims the lives of four elementary students, with special needs. The children who were killed in this wreck were age 5, age 9, and two children age 10.

This tragic event occurred when a dump truck driven by Raymond Gust, slowed for a moment while making a left hand turn into a driveway, while a Mack truck driven by, Terry Dixon, was unable to stop, crashed into the school bus causing the school bus to flip onto its side, when a second dump truck crashed into the school bus roof, causing the bus to slid into a ditch.

Damages were obvious at the scene, as the top of the bus was crushed down the middle, the hood of the second truck involved in the wreck was missing, the dump truck involved in the wreck had a blown tire, and another vehicle who was behind the school bus was in a ditch on the north side of the road.

It is reported that multiple victims were trapped in the school bus, and rescuers had to free them, and all of the children on the bus were wearing seat belts, or were in safety seats at the time of the wreck. The wreck was too severe for the safety restraints to save the children, who died as a result of this wreck. The only child injured that survived the bus wreck was flown to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.

The drivers of the dump trucks, the Mack truck, as well as the school bus were not injured during the wreck however they will be required to take drug screening tests to rule out the possibility of being under the influence at the time of the deadly bus wreck.