Federal Officials Allowed Unsafe Bus Company to Continue Operations

Federal officials backed off their plan to shut down a bus company with an unsatisfactory safety rating just days before one of the company’s buses was involved in a fatal accident last year. According to a Bloomberg news report, documents show that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) decided to let Sky Express Inc. continue to operate after it had received 204 violations in 94 inspections over a 10-month period. The bus accident on May 31, 2011 killed four people and injured 49 others. The accident was the third bus crash in an 11-week period last year. The string of accidents prompted an investigation that shut down 26 companies because of safety hazards. Almost all of these were budget bus lines.
Numerous Safety Violations
On April 13, 2011, Sky Express was ordered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to fix several safety problems. If the concerns weren’t remedied within 45 days, the company would have to shut down. Officials gave Sky Express a 10-day extension on their appeal and during that extension, the fatal accident occurred. Just five days before the accident, Sky Express was reviewed and the company was to be granted a conditional rating, but that changed after the crash. Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said FMCSA’s failure to get Sky Express off the roadway is a pattern for the agency and this apparent trend may be linked to several other accidents. The company was found to have inadequate safety policies in place for its drivers.
Motor Coach Accidents
According to the Washington-based nonprofit organization Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, nationwide, there were 24 motor coach accidents in 2011. Thirty-four people were killed and another 467 were injured.
Just as bus drivers are responsible for safely operating buses and following the rules of the road, companies are responsible to ensure their drivers are well-trained, knowledgeable and well-versed on all required safety procedures. If the driver or his or her employer was at fault in an accident, they may be held liable for any injuries or losses that occur as a result. Victims of such accidents may be able to seek compensation including, but not limited to, lost wages, past and future pain and suffering, medical bills, hospitalization costs, etc.
Compensation for Bus Crash Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. 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.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: Bloomberg News