Las Vegas is a popular tourist destination, and the schools and organizations that plan activities in the city often opt for group transportation to cut expenses and promote bonding. When such high-occupancy vehicles are involved in car crashes, the death and injury toll can be substantial. If the accidents are caused by the negligent actions of a person or company, these parties may find themselves facing personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits.
In a tragic story that has been making headlines across the country, 8 passengers were killed when a FedEx truck collided with their tour bus. Both drivers also suffered fatal injuries. The bus was transporting chaperones and a group of teenaged students from various parts of Southern California to Humboldt State University for a campus visit. The truck also hit a sedan prior to colliding with the bus; reports do not indicate whether the driver of this vehicle was injured.
The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the accident, and a report from the federal agency is expected to be released soon. Among the issues the NTSB hopes to resolve is whether one or both drivers were impaired and why the FedEx driver did not try to apply the truck’s brakes prior to the collision.
When accidents result in fatalities, relatives of the deceased may choose to pursue civil litigation against the parties responsible for the crash. If one of your family members was killed through premises liability or because of a negligent driver, you may find it beneficial to speak with an attorney to determine whether you have a viable wrongful death claim.
Source: news.yahoo.com, “Feds revisit safety rules after Calif. bus crash,” Fenit Nirappil, Apr. 14, 2014.