Greyhound Bus Will Likely Face Lawsuits After Deadly Crash
Injured victims and the families of those killed in a horrific bus accident are likely to file lawsuits against multiple parties after an accident that killed 3 of the 22 individuals on the bus. A truck driver had parked on the side of the I-70 after a rest area was filled to capacity. The Greyhound bus driver struck the big rig causing a serious accident. 14 of the 22 individuals inside of the bus were injured as a result of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is attempting to uncover what caused the accident. They will look at elements such as driver fatigue or poor lighting in the area. They may also consider the risk posed to drivers by parked big rigs.
At this point, we don’t know who is going to be named in the lawsuit. But likely candidates are Greyhound, the driver of the bus, and the truck drivers that parked their big rigs on the side of the road. The Decatur truck accident lawyers at Patel Law have settled and tried several cases against trucking companies. In this article, we’ll discuss how this lawsuit might play out.
Not enough rest areas for truck drivers
One of the potential areas that the NTSB will look into is whether or not there are enough rest areas for truck drivers. In this case, the truck driver parked his big rig on the side of the road creating a potential obstruction for the Greyhound bus. The bus, however, likely left his lane when he collided with the big rigs, but those trucking companies may still be named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
An estimated 13 million trucks operate on U.S. highways and the general belief is that there are not enough rest stops to accommodate them. Truck drivers are only allowed to drive a certain amount of time and there is an electronic monitoring system in place that forces them to take rest breaks periodically. This places the truck drivers between a rock and a hard place as far as taking their mandatory rest breaks. If there are no spots available at a truck stop, they must stop on the side of the road to ensure that they are complying with federal law. The trucking companies will likely argue that their drivers had no choice in the matter and were not breaking the law when they were stopped on the side of the road.
The Greyhound bus driver is likely responsible for this accident, although the NTSB has not released an official ruling yet. A driver is required to keep an active lookout for vehicles in their path and avoid accidents when possible. In this case, the Greyhound bus rear-ended three parked semis. There was an open lane available to them. So, the liability will likely fall on Greyhound for these injuries and deaths.
Talk to a Decatur, IL Truck Accident Attorney Today
Patel Law, PC represents the interests of those who have been injured by commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. Call our Decatur personal injury lawyers today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.
Source:
theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/12/greyhound-bus-crash-illinois
