Twenty People Injured In El Segundo Accident After Commuter Bus Strikes Parked Semi-Truck On Imperial Highway By Douglass Street Near the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA (June 27, 2022) – At least 20 people were injured in an El Segundo bus accident on Imperial Highway after the bus crashed into a scissor lift by a semi-truck.
Los Angeles County police officials are saying that the accident took place on Monday morning near LAX. A big rig truck was parked at 2310 Imperial Highway so that the driver could unload equipment.
A Los Angeles Department of Transportation commuter bus hit s scissor lift that was being used to unload the truck. The force of the impact caused the LADOT bus driver to lose control and flip over in the middle of the road.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the accident in order to help all of the victims. The driver of the semi-truck and the bus driver were both taken to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in critical condition.
Two passengers on the bus also sustained critical injuries. In all, around 20 people were injured in the El Segundo crash and required care. Police shut down eastbound lanes of Imperial Highway as they conducted an investigation.
Liability In El Segundo Bus Accidents
Buses are typically one of the safest forms of transportation for passengers. Still, accidents happen and they often leave people with serious injuries. According to The Journalist’s Resource, more than 700 million passengers are transported by buses each year in the United States. Despite a strong safety record from bus companies, more than 250 people are killed and 20,000 people were injured in bus accidents in 2009. There are a number of steps that bus companies should take in order to help prevent bus accidents.
- Bus drivers should be well-trained in how to handle their vehicle.
- Buses and their component parts should be periodically inspected and maintained.
- Buses can be equipped with safety features like forward collision avoidance systems that can prevent or mitigate crashes.
Buses are considered common carriers under the law and their drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. According to Acosta v. Southern California Rapid Transit Dist., “Common carriers bind themselves to carry safely those whom they take into their vehicles, and owe both a duty of utmost care and the vigilance of a very cautious person towards their passengers. Such carriers are responsible for any, even the slightest, negligence and are required to do all that human care, vigilance, and foresight reasonably can do under all the circumstances.” A serious traffic infraction can jeopardize a bus driver’s ability to maintain their commercial license.
All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care to scan the road ahead of them for potential hazards. They must also reduce their speed in order to avoid any potential collision. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, no person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed greater than would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a bus driver fails to reduce their speed to avoid a truck or other obstacle in the roadway, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a bus accident could extend beyond any driver. The company or municipality that owned a bus could be liable for the wrongful actions of their employees. LADOT buses, for example, are owned by the city of Los Angeles. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the wrongful acts of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any bus accident.
- Surveillance footage from within the bus should be sought.
- The bus driver’s logbook should be reviewed.
- The results of any sobriety test taken by a bus driver should be examined.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The FMCSA requires commercial buses that can transport 16 or more passengers to have at least $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a bus crash may be able to seek damages through a bodily injury claim. Damages can help cover past medical bills, future medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Many victims often don’t realize how badly they were injured for some time after a collision. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A LADOT Bus Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to all of the victims of this El Segundo bus crash. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. This was a preventable collision that should have never taken place. There are so many questions that need to be answered. Was the driver of the LADOT bus distracted? Were they properly trained?
Have you or someone that you love been injured in a LADOT bus accident? You may be entitled to compensation in order to cover any injuries you sustained. Our team of bus accident attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they are entitled to so that they can recover and move forward with their lives. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
