On behalf of Rooney Law Firm posted in Trucking Accidents on Friday, April 25, 2014.
According to the plaintiff attorney, a lawsuit seeking $100 million in compensation was filed on behalf of the mother of a 17-year-old girl that perished in a recent accident involving a California bus and a FexEx truck. The attorney reports that this is the first lawsuit related to the truck accident. The suit names FedEx, the truck driver’s estate and the bus company as defendants.
The crash occurred as a bus full of high school students was traveling to a nearby university campus. According to reports, the bus was struck by a FedEx truck. Dozens of passengers on the bus climbed out of windows, but five students, the bus driver, and three adults were trapped in the bus when it was engulfed in flames. They all died; the driver of the FedEx truck, which was also engulfed in flames, died as well.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of one student’s mother alleges that FedEx trucks are historically known for catching fire. According to the suit, driver error, improper loading of cargo or mechanical problems may lead to the vehicle catching fire. According to reports, some witnesses reported that the truck was on fire before it hit the bus.
The suit also claims that the bus did not have adequate emergency exits, which may have allowed all passengers to exit safely following the crash. According to reports, authorities have not identified the cause of the crash. A FedEx spokesperson issued condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the accident but refused to comment on litigation. The bus company did not return media requests for a statement about the lawsuit, according to reports.
Personal injury cases related to car accidents can name various involved parties as defendants. Vehicle owners, companies and drivers are just some of the entities that could be deemed negligent in an accident. Proper planning and an understanding of personal injury litigation help ensure the most positive outcome in any case.
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record, “FedEx sued over I-5 bus crash” No author given, Apr. 23, 2014
