Bus Accidents
CHP Reports Alcohol played role in fatal Willow Creek bus crash
An unidentified 19-year-old woman was killed and seven other people were injured when a bus drove off a steep embankment on State Route 96 late Friday night, according to a California Highway Patrol press release issued Saturday.
Around 9:50 p.m. a 1993 GMC former school bus driven by Lorenzo Jackson, 42, of Washington state, drove off the right of the highway for unknown reasons approximately four miles north of State Route 299, according to the release. The bus rolled a short distance down a steep embankment, and came to rest against some trees.
Jackson broke his leg exiting the bus, according to the release. Two other passengers exited the bus and remained nearby while two passengers walked up to State Route 96. Three people remained in the bus, including a woman who was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Deputy Coroner Roy Horton said the woman’s identity is currently unknown, and that the passengers on the bus did not know very much about each other.
During investigation of the crash, it was determined that both Jackson and 35-year-old Joseph Forcier of Florida had driven the bus under suspicion of alcohol intoxication prior to and during the collision, according to the release.
Both men were arrested and remain at medical facilities to be treated for their injuries. Forcier received major head trauma and was transported to Mad River Community Hospital, according to the release.
Five other accident victims were transported to St. Joseph and Mad River Hospitals. The deceased victim’s name has not been released.
Cause of the Humboldt County Crash
As passengers, the deceased and the injured likely could have done nothing to prevent this fatal roll over collision that ultimately took her life and seriously injured several others. The California Highway Patrol will surely look at the speed of the vehicle, witness reports, and other factors to determine what occurred and who was responsible. roll over collisions such as this one can have countless causes, including unsafe passing maneuvers, swerving to avoid an object in the road, falling asleep at the wheel, driving under the influence, or driver distraction. No other vehicles were involved and alcohol is suspected to be a factor.
According to the California Highway Patrol the crash was “due to the Bus driver’s state of intoxication, the driver failed to maintain effective control of the vehicle, which ran off the left side of the roadway”.
Bus Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
Demand accountability from those responsible for the bus accidents. A bus driver is a “common carrier” who owes you the “highest duty of care!” Many times the insurance companies for the bus companies (i.e., many times they are “self insured”) will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex bus case. We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage. We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial as well as file all government claims. Unfortunately, the reality is that most bus accident victims usually sustain serious/catastrophic injuries which many times results in death. Over the past twenty years attorney Gary A Kessler has a proven successful track record demanding accountability from the responsible parties and obtaining outstanding results for his clients.
The laws regarding bus accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced bus accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California bus accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with serious injuries associated with a bus accident. Such bus accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and bus accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your bus accident case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for the trial of your case. As in all bus accident and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible party.
If you have been seriously injured or a family member sustained fatal injuries involving a bus, you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another experienced law firm immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. Claims for damages against a public entity or governmental entity are complex and they have “strict time limitations”. So do not delay and contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today!
Woman dies after falling out of moving party bus on Calif. highway
A drunken female reveller who fell out of a party bus during a catfight was caught under the wheels of the bus and killed.
The two young women clashed on their way back from a country music concert to Santa Cruz, California, when the doors accidentally opened and the tragic accident took place.
Natasha Noland, 25, died after plunging from the bus at around 11.50pm on Friday on Highway 17, while a 20-year-old woman from Felton was injured.
Several of the 12 to 15 passengers on the Party Bus of Santa Cruz fled the scene, according to Mercury News, and two others were arrested for drunkenness.
The group was returning from a Brad Paisley concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View and were all ‘highly intoxicated’ and uncooperative, according to police.
‘We’re hoping once they sober up they’ll cooperate a bit more,’ said California Highway Patrol officer DJ Sarabia.
The shocking news comes at a time when lawmakers are debating whether to more closely regulate drinking on party buses.
Party buses are typically vans that look like airport shuttles and can seat from 15 to 30 people. They often have couches and bars instead of row seating and some include stripper poles and dance floors.
‘As they’re fighting, somehow the door to this bus opens up and they both fall out,’ said Mr Sarabia. ‘The victim is run over by the bus, and the other woman is injured.’
Ms Noland is the daughter of Todd and Sue, owners of a well-known Santa Cruz surf shop.
Employees at Pacific Wave, where she worked as the women’s goods buyer, later said they were devastated by the news.
The Mercury News noted that the accident occurred as the California legislature is considering a bill to clamp down on underage drinking on party buses.
Bus Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
Demand accountability from those responsible for the bus accidents. A bus driver is a “common carrier” who owes you the “highest duty of care!” Many times the insurance companies for the bus companies (i.e., many times they are “self insured”) will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex bus case. We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage. We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial as well as file all government claims. Unfortunately, the reality is that most bus accident victims usually sustain serious/catastrophic injuries which many times results in death. Over the past twenty years attorney Gary A Kessler has a proven successful track record demanding accountability from the responsible parties and obtaining outstanding results for his clients.
The laws regarding bus accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced bus accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California bus accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with serious injuries associated with a bus accident. Such bus accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and bus accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your bus accident case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for the trial of your case. As in all bus accident and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible party.
If you have been seriously injured or a family member sustained fatal injuries involving a bus, you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another experienced law firm immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. Claims for damages against a public entity or governmental entity are complex and they have “strict time limitations”. So do not delay and contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today!
4 hurt in school bus crash near Orange Cove
Four people were hurt in an early morning accident involving a school bus near Orange Cove, The California Highway Patrol reported.
The bus and a Honda Civic collided at the intersection of Manning and Anchor avenues just before 8 a.m.
The driver of the car suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Two, out of the 10 students on the bus, had to be taken to the hospital., Kings Canyon Unified School District officials said. They were taken to Adventist Medical Center in Reedley.
The students were en route to Orange Cove High School and McCord Elementary School in Orange Cove.
Cause of the Fresno County Crash
Bus accidents and serious injury liability
The laws regarding bus accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to family members to seek the advice of an experienced bus accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The Fresno bus accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with serious injuries associated with a bus accident. Such bus accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and bus accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your bus accident case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for the trial of your case. As in all bus accident and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible party.
If you have been seriously injured or a family member sustained serious injuries involving a bus, you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another experienced law firm immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. Claims for damages against a public entity or governmental entity are complex and they have “strict time limitations”. So do not delay and contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today!
Seguin students injured after school bus crash with big rig, PT Cruiser
SEGUIN — Bits of burnt homework could be seen from the open emergency door, left ajar after a freshman football player helped fellow students off his burning school bus.
“At this time, we have zero fatalities. We are very blessed when it comes to that,” said State Trooper Jason Reyes.
Bus #2 was headed to Barnes Middle School and Seguin High School with 9 children on board, when the unexpected happened along Hwy 123: troopers say a PT Cruiser had moved to the shoulder to allow an 18-wheeler to pass.
It was a courtesy that officers say became complicated.
Trooper Reyes added, “It was at that time that the PT Cruiser was clipped. Once it was clipped, it forced it into the northbound lane of traffic, striking the school bus head on.”
That set-off a chain reaction and a fire, which quickly spread to the four vehicles, charring the twisted mass as children and drivers scurried for safety. All 13-people would be injured, but survived.
Firefighters found the cab of the bus separated from its wheels and upside down. School officials said the bus was 3-weeks old with a modern design that allowed the chassis to detach in a collision, minimizing the impact on passengers.
Seguin ISD spokesperson Sean Hoffmann said, “The fact that the body of the bus isn’t connected to the frame probably saved lives today.”
Hoffman said the bus was unusually unoccupied. Many of the high school seniors had the day off, because students in schools statewide are taking the STARR exams. Hoffmann said the injured students will have to make-up that test at a later date.
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s accident reconstruction team is combing through the wreckage, because troopers say the accident had all the right ingredients of a mass-casualty event.
But, it also had the right people responding at the right time.
“The true heroes in this were some workers on their way to work from Halliburton. From what I was told they helped remove a lot of students from the bus and direct traffic. We got to give praise to those guys,” said Reyes.
The driver of the 18-wheeler was flown to University Hospital in critical condition. The school bus driver and one student are at San Antonio area hospitals. The other victims received treatment at Guadalupe Regional Medical Center in Seguin.
GRMC spokesperson Kelsey Stewart said the hospital brought in extra staff to help direct families and coordinate care for the victims.
Bus accidents and serious injury liability
The laws regarding bus accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to family members to seek the advice of an experienced bus accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The western states bus accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with serious injuries associated with a bus accident. Such bus accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and bus accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your bus accident case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for the trial of your case. As in all bus accident and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible party.
If you have been seriously injured or a family member sustained serious injuries involving a bus, you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another experienced law firm immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. Claims for damages against a public entity or governmental entity are complex and they have “strict time limitations”. So do not delay and contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today!
Man hit by Muni bus dies
San Francisco — A man was hit by a Muni bus and later died Sunday morning, after witnesses saw him walk into the street from between two parked cars, San Francisco police said.
The man, who has not been identified, was struck by a 21 Hayes bus near Fillmore Street at about 10:45 a.m., police said. He was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:15 a.m.
The accident is under investigation. The bus driver has been placed on non-driving status pending the results of the investigation, said Muni spokesman Paul Rose.
Bus accidents and serious injury liability
If you have been injured on a Bus, MTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus system or runover by a bus, MTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus, you have a very limited time to pursue legal action. By representing wrongful death and seriously injured accident victims and their families injured on or due to being run over or into by public transportation, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge to obtain the outstanding results you deserve for your damages. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the proven track record.
Accidents involving buses are often severe and many times fatal (death). Whether the bus collision involves a car, truck or pedestrian the damage sustained by the victim(s) is likely to result in death. Did you know that a “bus driver” owes you the passenger the highest level of care, because he is a “common carrier” who is directly responsible for your safety.
The California bus accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with serious injuries associated with a bus accident. Such bus accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and bus accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your bus accident case.
39 students injured in Wash. school bus crash
A school bus overturned Monday morning on a central Washington highway, injuring dozens of children, including three seriously, before coming to rest at the edge of a field, authorities said.
The bus veered off the road, overcorrected and rolled on Highway 281 just south of Quincy, an agricultural region about 120 miles east of Seattle, said Lt. Scott Martin of the Washington State Patrol.
The bus came to rest on its passenger side, and all 39 students on board suffered injuries of some kind, though most were minor scrapes, bruises and bloody noses, Martin said. Three children were in serious condition, but none of the injuries was believed to be life-threatening.
One child was airlifted to the nearby city of Moses Lake, and two were taken to a hospital in Ephrata. The rest of the students went to the local Quincy Valley Medical Center, either for treatment or to be reconnected with their families.
The driver apparently was not injured, and no other vehicle was involved.
The Quincy School District covers about 450 square miles of farmland in central Washington’s Columbia River basin, which is home to thousands of acres of tree fruit, and potato and onion fields. The district serves 2,500 students.
“We are deeply concerned about the students and the driver,” the district’s superintendent, Burton Dickerson, told the Columbia Basin Herald. “The safety of all our students is our top priority. Student safety is the number one job of our bus drivers.”
Cause of the Yakima County Crash
Lt. Scott Martin of the Washington State Patrol stated that the cause of the crash is under investigation. Roads were bare and dry when the bus rolled. No other vehicles were involved in the incident.
Bus accidents and serious injury liability
The laws regarding bus accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to family members to seek the advice of an experienced bus accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The western states bus accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with serious injuries associated with a bus accident. Such bus accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and bus accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your bus accident case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for the trial of your case. As in all bus accident and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible party.
If you have been seriously injured or a family member sustained serious injuries involving a bus, you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another experienced law firm immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. Claims for damages against a public entity or governmental entity are complex and they have “strict time limitations”. So do not delay and contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today!
San Francisco Muni bus runs over bicyclist
A bicyclist was seriously injured Tuesday after he caught his wheel on a Muni track and fell under a bus, authorities said.
The bus, an outbound 31 Balboa, rolled over the man at the intersection of Market and New Montgomery streets at about 4:41 p.m. , said San Francisco Metropolitan Transit Agency spokesman Paul Rose.
He was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening injuries, said Officer Albie Esparza, a police spokesman.
Traffic at the intersection was shut down pending the investigation, but opened again shortly before 6:45 p.m., Rose said.
Bus accidents and serious injury liability
If you have been injured on a Bus, MTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus system or runover by a bus, MTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus, you have a very limited time to pursue legal action. By representing wrongful death and seriously injured accident victims and their families injured on or due to being run over or into by public transportation, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge to obtain the outstanding results you deserve for your damages. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the proven track record.
Accidents involving buses are often severe and many times fatal (death). Whether the bus collision involves a car, truck or pedestrian the damage sustained by the victim(s) is likely to result in death. Did you know that a “bus driver” owes you the passenger the highest level of care, because he is a “common carrier” who is directly responsible for your safety.
The California bus accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with serious injuries associated with a bus accident. Such bus accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and bus accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your bus accident case.
Probe ordered into crash that injured 7 at 110 Freeway bus stop
LOS ANGELES —Seven pedestrians were critically injured Wednesday afternoon in a bus lane of the northbound 110 Freeway near the 105 Freeway when the car hit them, officials said.
The injuries range from serious to critical, according to authorities.
The accident was reported at 3:15 p.m., according to Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
All the victims were taken to hospitals.
According to a MTA spokesperson, the driver was going northbound on the 110 Freeway near a bus station. He entered the bus lane and realizing he entered the station swerved onto the platform in an effort to avoid hitting the bus.
Metro officials said Thursday they will launch an investigation into a harrowing crash at a South L.A. bus stop where seven people were stuck by a motorist.
Metro chief Art Leahy said at Thursday’s board meeting that he has requested a review that will examine the transitway, signage and other safety issues, and he wants a report within 60 days.
It was unclear what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. About 50 firefighters were called to the scene to help and assess the victims.
The accident prompted the CHP to issue a SigAlert for the busy artery just as the afternoon rush-hour commute was underway.
It is unclear if the driver was under the influence. News Helicopters recorded footage of the suspected driver undergoing a sobriety field test conducted by CHP officers. The results of that test were not immediately revealed.
Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Liability
When you suffer serious/traumatic injuries or a loved one’s death, you are entitled to compensation (medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages, future wages and pain and suffering). The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler will aggressively represent you and fight for your rights against the insurance companies for the monetary damages you deserve.
Unfortunately, the reality of most pedestrian and bicycle accident victims usually sustain serious/catastrophic injuries which many times results in death. Over the past twenty years attorney Gary A Kessler has a proven successful track record demanding accountability from the responsible parties and obtaining outstanding results for his clients.
The laws regarding pedestrian and bicycle accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced pedestrian and bicycle accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The Los Angeles pedestrian and bicycle accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme serious injuries associated with a pedestrian/bicycle accident. Such accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and pedestrian/bicycle accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all pedestrian and bicycle accidents and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so that we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the reponsible parties!
Muni driver charged with vehicular manslaughter
The Muni bus driver who struck and killed a 23-year-old woman in a Castro District crosswalk last summer has been charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
He was arrested Saturday and released on $10,000 bail. His arraignment has been set for Friday.
The operator, identified by authorities as Wallace Loggins, was driving his empty bus to a new a new assignment across town on the afternoon of Aug. 19 when he ran over Emily Dunn.
Dunn had almost reached the curb when the 40-foot bus struck her. Loggins was making a left turn from 18th Street onto Hartford Street, a narrow street with no regular Muni service in a largely residential area.
On-board video surveillance tape showed the driver apparently looking in his side-view mirror and not at what was going on in front of him when Dunn was run over, investigators found. There was no indication that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In the previous five years, the annual number of Muni-related fatalities was four or five, with the exception of 2009 when there was one.
The district attorney determined that Loggins, 36, who began driving for Muni last January, was negligent for not seeing Dunn crossing the street.
Bus Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
If you have been injured on a Bus, MTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus system or runover by a bus, MTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus, you have a very limited time to pursue legal action. By representing wrongful death and seriously injured accident victims and their families injured on or due to being run over or into by public transportation, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge to obtain the outstanding results you deserve for your damages. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the proven track record.
Accidents involving buses are often severe and many times fatal (death). Whether the bus collision involves a car, truck or pedestrian the damage sustained by the victim(s) is likely to result in death. Did you know that a “bus driver” owes you the passenger the highest level of care, because he is a “common carrier” who is directly responsible for your safety.
The laws regarding bus accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced bus accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones
Site of I-15 chain crash notorious for backups
A commuter bus slammed into backed-up traffic Wednesday morning in Temecula on a stretch of highway notorious for congestion and a high rate of accidents.
The five-vehicle, chain reaction crash on southbound Interstate 15 sent seven people to local hospitals, including the driver of the Riverside Transit Agency bus, whose right leg was almost completely severed, California Highway Patrol Officer Nathan Baer said.
About 7:50 a.m., the bus carrying five passengers rammed into the back of a white box truck that was stopped at the end of a line of cars waiting to exit the freeway at Winchester Road. The bus driver, whose injuries were potentially life-threatening, apparently didn’t notice that the vehicles in front of him were stopped, Baer said.
Throughout each day, traffic backs up onto the southbound freeway from the heavily used Winchester Road off-ramp, leaving drivers to idle precariously in the right-hand lane. A $200-million road project aimed at alleviating the congestion has been in the works for 12 years.
Temecula and the rest of southwest Riverside County have grown exponentially over the past 20 years, and traffic on its freeways and interchanges have, too. The Winchester Road interchange, a gateway to The Promenade mall and the rest of Temecula’s retail core, is one of the busiest.
The southbound freeway around Winchester Road had a rate of collisions more than 50 percent higher than the state average, according to a 2009 study done by Temecula and Caltrans in preparation for the project. The study looked at crashes from 2002 to 2004.
Most of the accidents occurred during weekdays in good driving conditions, and most were rear-end collisions, the study found.
Rush-hour mess
The bus that authorities said started the crash was traveling on RTA Route 208, an express commuter line heading from downtown Riverside to the mall. The route is operated for RTA by an outside contractor, Empire Transportation of Bellflower. The driver, whose identity was not released, is an employee of that company.
An Empire representative declined to comment on the crash, referring questions to RTA.
Passengers estimated the bus was going about 55 mph when it crashed, though CHP officers couldn’t immediately confirm that.
Baer said officers continue to investigate but there was no indication drugs or alcohol played a role. RTA officials said in a statement they were working with the CHP to review camera footage taken from the bus.
The impact from the bus forced the box truck into a Nissan pickup and off the side of the road. The pickup was sent forward into an SUV, which hit another SUV in front of it.
The driver of the box truck walked away from the crash without significant injuries, despite his truck ending up on its side.
The bus careened off the box truck, across four lanes of traffic into the concrete center divider. The front of the red-and-white bus was shorn off.
All five bus passengers were taken to local hospitals with minor to moderate injuries, Baer said. The driver of the pickup, which was totaled, was treated at a hospital with cuts to his face.
The crash and resulting cleanup reduced the freeway to two lanes for several hours, causing a massive traffic headache for morning commuters. Southbound traffic backed up for miles, as far north as Lake Elsinore on I-15 and into Menifee on Interstate 215, according to drivers and the CHP.
If you have been injured on a Bus, RTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus system or runover by a bus, RTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus, you have a very limited time to pursue legal action. By representing wrongful death and seriously injured accident victims and their families injured on or due to being run over or into by public transportation, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge to obtain the outstanding results you deserve for your damages. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the proven track record.
Accidents involving buses are often severe and many times fatal (death). Whether the bus collision involves a car, truck or pedestrian the damage sustained by the victim(s) is likely to result in death. Did you know that a “bus driver” owes you the passenger the highest level of care, because he is a “common carrier” who is directly responsible for your safety.
Demand accountability from those responsible for the bus accidents. A bus driver is a “common carrier” who owes you the “highest duty of care!” Many times the insurance companies for the bus companies (i.e., many times they are “self insured”) will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex bus case. We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage. Remember, cases against the governmental bus companies RTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus System have a very short time to file the proper government claim which must be filed first, way before the actual lawsuit is filed! We are prepared to front all costs required for the neccessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial as well as file all government claims. Unfortunately, the reality is that most bus accident victims usually sustain serious/catastrophic injuries which many times results in death. Over the past twenty years attorney Gary A Kessler has a proven successful track record demanding accountability from the responsible parties and obtaining outstanding results for his clients.
The laws regarding bus accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced bus accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California bus accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with serious injuries associated with a bus accident. Such bus accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and bus accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your bus accident case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for the trial of your case. As in all bus accident and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible party.
If you have been seriously injured or a family member sustained fatal injuries involving a bus, you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another experienced law firm immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. Claims for damages against a public entity or governmental entity are complex and they have “strict time limitations”. So do not delay and contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today!
