Driver Fatigue May Have Caused Fatal Bus Accident

Federal investigators found that driver fatigue was a contributing factor in a deadly New York bus accident last year. According to Fox News, the bus driver’s cell phone and rental car were being used during the hours he was expected to be sleeping. The man also had his driving privileges suspended 18 times from 1987 to 2007 and apparently had a criminal record. There may have been negligent hiring and/or negligent retention of this driver in the bus company’s employ and they may have negligently entrusted the bus to this driver. Safety officials have said they are concerned about driver fatigue and the role it can play in the transportation industry, including buses and motor coaches which carry more than 700 million passengers a year.

Officials stated the driver in this case was speeding when the tour bus hit a barrier and fell on its side. Fifteen people were killed and another 17 injured in that horrific crash. The driver had said following the incident that he did not have any sleeping issues, but further investigation showed he may have gotten very little sleep in the days leading up to the accident. He drove passengers to a casino between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. and would wait for them. He would return to New York between 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The driver told investigators he slept six or seven hours during daytime hours, but cell phone and his rental car records told a different story, investigators say.

According to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, there were 24 motor coach accidents in 2011. Thirty-four people were killed and another 467 were injured. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that driver fatigue accounts for about 13 percent of bus and truck accidents.
Driving drowsy is negligent driving. A driver who causes an accident because he or she was sleepy or tired may be liable for any injuries or property damage caused. Commercial drivers including tour bus drivers are required to follow federal hours-of-service regulations. These regulations are in place to ensure that drivers are not fatigued or drowsy behind the wheel. In such cases where bus driver negligence is involved, both the driver and his or her employer, the bus company, may be held liable for the resulting injuries or damages.

The experienced New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm have a lengthy record of helping auto accident victims and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York transportation accident, please call our offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: Fox News