September 11, 2012—Los Angeles, CA—ABC news reports that a bus collision with a vehicle resulted in eight people being injured and taken to area hospitals.
The accident happened on Sunday when a bus was traveling west on Venice Boulevard and a car made a turn into its path. The accident occurred around 6:30 a.m. near South Spaulding Avenue. Two of the injured were in the car and six others on the bus. Police have not released any information about the cause of the accident or the names of the victims at this time.
My heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery go out to all the victims of this accident.
Bus Accidents Have High Injury Rates
Bus accidents account for a small percentage of all vehicle fatalities; in 2008, 293 people died in bus-related crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, many more people are injured in bus crashes, including those who suffer slip-and-fall accidents, pedestrian injuries, and vehicle injuries when they are involved in a collision with a bus.
How Did This Bus Collision Happen?
From the initial reports, it seems that the bus collision in this case was precipitated by the driver making a turn in front of the oncoming bus. Because the bus was traveling at a relatively high rate of speed, the driver was unable to stop in time to avoid a collision. However, this does not mean that the bus driver will be charged with the accident; in fact, it seems from the information released that the police have already decided that the driver of the car was at fault.
The speed of the bus probably also had something to do with the level of injuries of the passengers. Normally, passengers do not have high injury rates when they are simply “bumped” by a low-speed collision. However, in crashes at higher speeds, bus passengers are at particular risk due to the lack of passive restraints available on buses.
Liability For This Accident
It is likely that the car driver will be charged with the accident and will bear the liability for the injuries. In that case, he or she will be responsible for paying for the injuries that have been caused, including medical bills and pain and suffering. A professional bus accident attorney in Los Angeles should examine the case and help the victims determine the best way to recover damages.
