People in San Diego may have heard about a horrific bus accident that occurred last month in Fallbrook. A charter bus carrying passengers from Los Angeles to a nearby casino was traveling south down Interstate 15 when it suddenly began swerving back and forth before finally overturning, sending the helpless passengers aboard the bus toppling over each other and smashing against the bus’ interior.
After the crash, at least 21 people required medical attention and were rushed to local area hospitals. One of them died, and at least three others required overnight hospital stays due to their serious injuries.
California Highway Patrol will conduct a full accident investigation, but still have not been able to say exactly what caused the bus to lose control. The bus was traveling at 55 miles per hour at the time of the crash, and the roads were wet from a recent storm. Shockingly, just 40 miles away on Interstate 15, another bus carrying patrons to a local casino got in a serious wreck at almost the exact same time. The circumstances were very similar, as about 20 passengers from this wreck were injured as well.
California state law requires bus and transportation companies to take precautions to protect their passengers and others on the roads from avoidable harm, but with so many horrendous bus crashes and car accidents in recent years, people in San Diego are beginning to wonder whether these regulations are enough to keep people safe. Fortunately, personal injury attorneys can enforce victim’s rights and make these companies accept liability for the harm they cause. When a bus driver or a transportation company injures someone due to their negligence, the victims may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and pain and suffering.
Source: Fox 5 San Diego “1 killed, nearly 2 dozen hurt in bus crash,” Dec. 20, 2013
