Tragedy on Texas Roads: Multiple Bus Accidents Include Multiple Deaths and Injuries
Texas roads can be exceedingly dangerous and several families became the victims of negligent drivers in Texas during the week of April 8th.
On Tuesday, April 10th, the driver of a Kia Sorento struck a silver passenger vehicle which then collided with a Megabus that was traveling from Dallas to Houston. The accident occurred in Walker County.
Several calls had been made to local authorities that the driver of the Sorento was being reckless. Unfortunately, the motorist’s negligence led to the death of 51-year-old Praxedis Morales, driver of the other vehicle. The driver of the Kia Sorento was also killed.
Additionally, numerous passengers from the bus were taken to local hospitals for their injuries. Authorities were continuing to investigate the accident.
But that wasn’t the only major accident involving a bus.
A Greyhound bus crashed in Fort Worth while traveling from Abilene to Dallas on the morning of Friday, April 13th. A total of 34 individuals were treated at the scene of the crash and eight were taken to local hospitals.
These two incidents highlight the dangers of driving on Texas roads, especially when using mass transportation.
Being involved in a bus accident can be a traumatic experience made even more difficult if you’ve been injured and don’t know who you can turn to. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a bus accident caused by someone else’s negligence, your dedicated Houston attorneys at Lapeze & Johns are here for you. With a history of success and a reputation built on excellence, the Lapeze & Johns attorneys are confident in their ability to resolve your legal disputes and will not receive a penny until you – the client – has been paid.
If you have been injured in a bus accident, please consider the following.
What protection do bus riders have?
Public and mass transportation plays an important role for the average American. This is especially true in Texas where large cities require a motor vehicle to get around town.
Luckily, the common commuter has rights and legal protection. In Texas, buses, commuter vans, limousines, and other mass transportation vehicles are categorized as “common carriers” and are held to higher standards of responsibility for the safety and protection of their passengers.
As common carriers, the owners of these types of vehicles are responsible for:
- Properly maintaining and repairing vehicles.
- Meeting federal and state safety standards.
- Ensuring all drivers have been adequately trained and have the right licensing.
- Ensuring all drivers are sober and drug -free.
- Monitoring worker hours and driving records.
These standards have been put in place to protect passengers. When a company fails to meet these requirements they put the well being of their passengers at stake.
How do bus companies try to protect themselves?
Bus companies are running a business, and like most businesses, they are interested in their bottom line. This means protecting their money even when they are responsible for a serious accident. With plenty of resources of their own, it is important that you protect your own interest by seeking guidance from an experienced attorney.
The team at Lapeze & Johns has seen how these bus companies react to claims against them and their strategies to protect themselves include:
- Immediately offering settlements to victims and discouraging them from seeking additional compensation.
- Having passenger fill out C-4 forms immediately after an accident to ultimately use against the passengers. After a shocking event like a bus accident, most individuals will be unable to accurately depict what exactly occurred and busing companies like to take advantage of this.
- After a bus accident, lawyers or insurance personnel representing the busing company will request a recorded statement from a victim. These questions are often posed in a manner that the victim will accidentally misrepresent themselves. Companies are able to take advantage of this for their own benefit.
Bus companies and their lawyers are looking to deny or minimize any claim against them. You need an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer to protect you or your loved ones and to make sure you are treated fairly.
Who is responsible for my injuries?
A bus accident does not rest solely on the bus driver. There may be numerous parties responsible for the accident including: other drivers, the owner of the bus, a parts manufacturer, or even the last party that performed maintenance on the vehicle.
Let our trustworthy Houston attorneys help you to uncover the truth of who is responsible for your injuries and bring them to justice.
Call on Lapeze & Johns when you’ve been the victim of a bus accident.
You need an experienced legal team that can properly represent you against large companies. You need Houston’s own Lapeze & Johns, the Gulf Coast’s best truck accident attorneys around.
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