The recent Soledad bus crash underscores the need to have seat belts placed in tour buses. Several people were killed and severely injured when a bus carrying tourists on a Highway 101 overpass crashed against a guard rail, careened across the road and rolled over. Several of the passengers were French and Canadian tourists. The tour bus is owned by Orion Pacific, an Orange County based charter bus company. There was notable damage to the roof, which invites another discussion of the roof crashworthiness of tour buses.
This crash is simliar to the tour bus crash accident that occurred in Mexican Hat, Utah on January 6, 2008. This firm represents one of the families that lost a loved one in this crash. In this crash, a chartered tour bus carrying skiers from Colorado to Arizona struck a guard rail and rolled down a steep embankment killing and severely injuring several people. The issues in this case involve the absence of seat belts in the tour bus and the inadequately supported roof. This crash also involves the investigation of insurance and other methods of recovery against multiple defendants and parties. The crash necessitated a team of lawyers to pool their resources to handle cases involving nine deaths and multiple individuals with serious injuries.
A recent article by CQ Today (Congressional Quarterly) dated April 22, 2009 states that “the motor coach industry and highway safety advocates are backing competing versions of bus safety legislation that are likely to be in play during surface transportation reauthorization negotiations this year. Both bills would promote new motor coach safety standards designed to protect occupants in a crash or rollover.” The article then explains one bill requires the installation of seat belts, firefighting equipment and stronger windows in new buses within a year. A competing bills seeks to delay required compliance with new standards for as long as 18 years. This second bill is unacceptable. The first bill is reasonable. A copy of this rather detailed report can be requested from our office by email. Please email us at info@penneylaw.com. We can then email this PDF document to you for your review.
As stated previously, this firm represents a family in a wrongful death case against multiple parties in the Mexican Hat, Utah tour bus accident. This firm understands the investigative needs in a bus case of this magnitude. Feel free to contact us to discuss the Soledad bus crash case or our pending Mexican Hat, Utah case. Our toll free number (888) 873-6639. You can also email us at info@penneylaw.com or visit our website at www.penneylaw.com.
