Merced Bus Crash Update

Merced Bus Crash Update

Merced Bus Crash Update

I’m Ed Smith, an Amputation Injury Attorney. A married couple traveling from Mexico to visit their daughter in Washington state were among four people identified as victims who passed away recently in a deadly bus accident in Livingston which is located near Merced, California. As you will recall, the bus slammed right into a highway exit sign. Sadly, the sign ripped through the center of the bus severing the limbs of some of the survivors and killing four others on board. Other passengers suffered minor to moderate injuries.

National Transportation Safety Board On Scene

The names of the victims were made public as investigators began the process of piecing together what led to the crash early Tuesday morning. Two theories being investigated are mechanical issues and bus driver fatigue.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the events leading up to the devastating crash. At this point, it is still too early in the investigation process to know the cause.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents

Some common causes of bus crashes include:

• Driver fatigue — driving while drowsy;
• Speeding – driving too fast for prevailing road conditions;
• Failure to stop at stop signs or red lights;
• Driving while impaired by alcohol, street drugs, prescription drugs or over-the counter drugs;
• Failure to obey traffic signals and signs;
• Erratic or sudden braking, turning and/or acceleration.

Independent Investigation of Bus Crash by Experienced Attorney

Because traffic collision reports can be inconclusive or in error, a bus crash should be thoroughly investigated by an experienced bus accident attorney so that the party or parties responsible for causing the accident can be identified and held accountable. If an independent investigation is not accomplished by an experienced attorney, you may not be able to recover full compensation to which you would otherwise be entitled. A personal injury attorney who handles accidents involving common carriers (buses) will have the needed resources upon which to draw in order to perform an effective and thorough investigation. Time is of the essence in these types of crashes. Evidence and recollections of what happened from witnesses fade over time.

Was the Bus Driver Drowsy?

Maybe. It is only natural to consider bus driver fatigue (drowsiness) when one considers that the accident happened at 3:30 in the morning.

A bus driver must rest for 8 hours after he or she drives a bus for 10 hours continuously. In contrast, truck drivers are allowed to drive 11 hours, but they are required to have a longer rest period of 10 hours.

Investigators remain unclear about how long Mario David Vasquez, 57 of Los Angeles, had been behind the wheel of the bus. They have not been allowed to interview the bus driver due to the severe nature of his injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Should Federal Rules Be Changed?

Some think the federal rules regarding bus driver hours behind the wheel need to change. Mostly because the consequences are severe in terms of numbers of lives in jeopardy when a bus crashes.

Officials said there were 26 passengers, and the driver of the bus, on board when it struck the pole in the Central Valley of California. Of those who survived, 7 sustained major injuries, whiled 16 other passengers suffered moderate and minor injuries.

Related Resources:

• Financial Resources for Amputees
• The Basics of Amputation Surgery
• What is a Catastrophic Personal Injury
• Contact Personal Injury Attorney Online

Northern California Bus Accident and Amputation Injury Attorney

I’m Ed Smith, an Amputation Injury Attorney. If you or someone close to you has suffered an amputation or other serious injury in an accident, please give me a call today at (209) 227-1931 for free, friendly advice. Español hablado aquí.

If you are calling from outside the (209) area code, please dial toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.

I’ve been assisting families recover compensation for their personal injuries and wrongful deaths for more than 3 decades.

See how my clients rate me on: Yelp, Avvo and Google.

I’m counted among the California members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We are a group of experienced trial attorneys who have won multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts.

Edward A Smith Law Offices
235 N. San Joaquin St
Stockton, CA 95202

Español hablado aquí.

Image Attribution: PatientInHospitalRoom.jpg, via Wikimedia Commons

Source of Merced Bus Crash Update – www.autoaccident.com

:bw