Pedestrian Injured In Sacramento RT Bus Accident By Orange Grove Avenue and Watt Avenue In North Highlands
NORTH HIGHLANDS, CALIFORNIA (September 15, 2022) – A male pedestrian was injured in a North Highlands bus accident by Orange Grove Avenue and Watt Avenue.
Sacramento County officials are saying that the collision took place on Wednesday morning. A male pedestrian was walking when he was struck by a Sacramento RT bus.
The force of the impact pulled the man underneath the bus. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the North Highlands bus accident in order to help the victim.
He was extricated from underneath the bus and taken to the hospital with injuries. A full investigation into the collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In North Highlands Bus Accidents
Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured in bus crashes every year. Pedestrians and those in passenger vehicles were most likely to be injured in bus crashes. Buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of pedestrians. They also have a wide turning radius and are more likely to be involved in side impact collisions. There are a number of steps that bus companies should take in order to help prevent collisions.
- Bus drivers should be well trained.
- Buses should be properly maintained.
- Bus drivers should be well rested before the start of their shift.
Buses are considered “common carriers” and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Pursuant 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 could jeopardize a bus driver’s ability to maintain their commercial license.
All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians. Many collisions are due to drivers that are traveling too fast. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, no person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed greater than what would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a bus driver failed to slow down and hit a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
The company or city that a bus driver worked for could also potentially be held at fault for a collision. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a bus driver may have been transporting passengers when they crashed. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Death
The FMCSA requires buses that can carry 16 or more passengers to have at least $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured due to the negligence of a bus driver may have recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. 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 Sacramento County Bus Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to the man injured in this North Highlands bus accident. It is our sincere hope that he is able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have witnessed what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a bus accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need to make a full recovery. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance after a bus accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
