When an individual agrees to be a passenger in another person's vehicle, they place their life in the driver's hands. While it takes just seconds for a serious car accident to take place, most people don't think in such drastic terms, and they expect a driver will do everything they can to ensure passenger safety.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case, especially when a driver is traveling in an unfamiliar area or is operating with distractions. In a recent charter bus accident that took place in Boston, a number of passengers were injured when their tour bus crashed into an overpass. The bus, which was carrying 42 Philadelphia area students and their adult chaperones, did not have enough clearance to make its way through the underpass. By the time the driver realized the peril, it was too late to stop the bus
In total, 35 individuals were injured in the collision, and four are still in the hospital in serious condition. The students were visiting Boston for the day, sightseeing and meeting with other groups of students. Just after they had boarded the bus to return to Pennsylvania, the driver, a 66-year-old West Philadelphia man, became lost on the city's chaotic roadways. He looked down to check the vehicle's GPS, missing the signs warning of the low clearance, and when he returned his attention back to the road, he realized they weren't going to make it.
An accident investigation is currently underway to determine whether the driver violated any traffic rules or if he had been driving for longer than a 15-hour shift, the maximum time a bus driver can be on duty under federal rules. In a mass transit accident case such as this one, if investigators determined a bus driver acted negligently, accident victims could be entitled to sue both the driver and their employer for personal injury. In a successful suit, a plaintiff could be awarded compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering or any other monetary losses associated with the accident.
Source: Philly.com, "After Boston bus crash, at least four of 42 Bucks County passengers remain hospitalized," Jessica Parks, Feb. 5, 2013
