California Injury Lawyer Blog

We are learning more details about the fatal July 22nd Greyhound bus crash on Highway 99 near Fresno. The multi-vehicle collision involved a Greyhound bus with 47 people on board, and a Chevy Blazer SUV. The bus had left Los Angeles en route to Sacramento around 6 p.m. Wednesday. After making a stop in Fresno, the bus crashed at 2:14 a.m., when the driver swerved to avoid an overturned minivan and struck a concrete center divider near the McKinley Avenue offramp before colliding with the Chevy Blazer.

Six people died in the crash, including the driver of the bus, James Jewett, 57, of Sacramento, and three occupants of the Chevy Blazer, Stephenie Cordoba, 20, and Vanessa Gonzalez, 19, both of Fresno, and Sylvia Lopez Garay, 18, of Dinuba. The two other victims were passengers on the overturned bus, Epifania Solis, 60, of Madera and Thomas Ponce, 79, of Mexico. At least three people were hospitalized with very serious injuries.

Continue reading "Victims of Central Valley Greyhound Bus Crash Identified" »

At least six people died early Thursday morning when a Greyhound bus carrying 47 people from Los Angeles to Sacramento crashed on Highway 99 in the Central Valley, authorities reported. Dozens more were injured in the crash, which occurred at about 2 a.m., when the driver of the Greyhound swerved to avoid an overturned minivan and struck the concrete divider, and then another vehicle before colliding with a tree.

Anyone seeking information about friends or family on the bus may call Greyhound's information line at (800)972-4583.

Bus Accidents and Common Carrier Duty of Care

Bus drivers and bus companies are held to a higher duty of care than drivers of passenger vehicles, because the Federal government has created strict regulations in regard to the liability owed to passengers injured when using a common carrier. The guidelines to determine whether or not a carrier is a common carrier are set forth in the California Book of Standard Civil Jury Instructions. The determining factors include whether the carrier maintains a regular place of business for the purpose of transporting passengers or property, whether the carrier advertises its services to the general public, and whether it charges fees for its services.

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

While this Fresno Greyhound bus accident is under investigation, the family members of the victims would be well-advised to contact a California personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to protect their rights in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. The lawyers at Estey Bomberger have recovered millions for bus accident victims in California, and offer a free, no-obligation consultation to help you understand and protect your legal rights.

Continue reading "Six Killed, 34 Injured in Greyhound Bus Crash in Fresno " »

A man who climbed out of his sports-utility vehicle after a rollover accident on Highway 1 was struck by a bus Thursday morning, authorities reported. According to the CHP, the 51-year-old man initially had been driving about 55 mph on northbound Highway 1 (the Cabrillo Highway), near the 12th street exit when he saw brake lights ahead of him. In attempt to avoid a collision, he swerved suddenly, causing his SUV to rollover. The vehicle was still in the traffic lane when he climbed out of it. He was then struck by a MST bus en rounte from Monterey to San Jose. The accident occurred before 5:30 a.m., when it was still dark. The bus driver suffered minor injuries. The driver of the SUV suffered major injuries including multiple broken bones and was taken to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

Injury and Liability Issues

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the April 8th accident. Accidents like this one - where somebody survives one accident and then is struck by another passing vehicle are more common than you'd think. Whenever a vehicle is disabled in the roadway, there is the potential for another collision. This is how a lot of multi-vehicle pileup or "chain reaction" collisions begin. Poor visibility situations, at night, in fog, rain or snow, increase the likelihood of accidents and injuries. In this situation, the victim injured would be well-advised to speak to a California personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances, he may be entitled to compensation from the bus company for his injuries, loss of earnings and pain and suffering.

Continue reading "SUV Rollover Accident Survivor Struck by Monterey-Salinas Transit Bus on Highway 1 " »

Nine people were hurt early Tuesday, January 5, 2010, when a San Francisco Municipal Railway bus collided with a small truck shortly after midnight. The bus accident occurred near 18th Street and De Haro Street. The collision forced the bus off the roadway and into some nearby bushes.

Seven people were taken to a nearby hospital with moderate to serious injuries, including the driver of the inbound Polk-19 bus. The driver of the truck, who suffered serious injuries, was pinned in his vehicle and had to be extricated by rescue crews. The cause of the crash is under investigation by Muni officials and the San Francisco Police Department. Muni officials have not yet commented on the San Francisco Municipal Railway bus crash.

Thankfully, everyone survived this crash, and hopefully, everyone involved will fully recover from their injuries. Based on the initial reports in the San Francisco Chronicle, it is impossible to tell what caused this collision, why the bus and the truck collided. Was there something mechanically wrong with the bus, or did the driver suffer a medical condition? Was the driver of the other truck drunk, reckless or negligent? Was the bus driver distracted or negligent on his part? The investigation will hopefully answer these questions and determine what caused this accident.

Continue reading "Nine People Hurt in San Francisco Muni Bus Crash " »

Torrance Police are investigating a tragic accident that killed a bus passenger exiting a bus in Torrance on Thursday afternoon. A man in his 40's slipped and fell November 19th after exiting the bus and stepping onto the sidewalk, and fell backwards under its wheels. The bus then ran over the man, who died at the scene of the accident. The fatal accident occurred at 4:30 p.m. at Torrance and Crenshaw Boulevard.

Determining who is responsible for a bus vs. pedestrian accident can be complex, and no determination has been made as to who was at fault for this fatal accident. More than one party may ultimately be responsible, including the transit company, the bus driver, maintenance companies, and city and county governments. An attorney can help you determine which parties are responsible for your injuries by hiring an independent investigator.

Continue reading "Man Exiting Bus Fatally Injured by Torrance Transit Bus " »