California Injury Blog
Eleven people suffered injuries in a bus crash after a Riverside Transit Authority bus crashed off Interstate 215 in Riverside. The Press-Enterprise reports that the crash occurred the morning of March 27, 2013 at the Box Springs Road onramp to the southbound Interstate 215. California Highway Patrol officials said an SUV collided with the bus. Authorities said 11 people on board the bus were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The remaining 18 on the bus were uninjured. Officials are still investigating the incident.
Traffic Collisions in Riverside
There were 20 fatalities and 1,396 injuries reported as a result of traffic collisions in the city of Riverside, according to CHP’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, during the same year, 190 people died and 7,632 were injured as a result of traffic accidents in Riverside County.
What Caused This Crash?
Based on this news report, it is unclear as to how or why the two vehicles collided. The report states that the SUV had a crumpled front end. However, it is not clear if the SUV rear-ended the bus on the on-ramp. There are still several unanswered questions here. Who was at fault for the crash? Was one of the drivers distracted or inattentive? Did excessive speed play a part? Did one of the drivers make an unsafe lane change? Was alcohol or drugs a factor? Was one vehicle following the other too closely? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
Duty of Bus Companies
Bus companies – whether they are private or public carriers – owe their passengers the utmost duty of care. This means that they are ultimately responsible for the safe transit of their passengers. If another motorist caused the accident, then, injured bus passengers can seek compensation for their damages from that party. However, if the accident was caused by bus driver negligence or poor bus maintenance then, passengers can file an injury claim against the driver and/or the bus company.
Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.