16 Teenagers Involved In Merced Bus Accident on The Martin Luther King Jr. Way Off-Ramp For Highway 99
MERCED, CALIFORNIA (March 9, 2023) – Multiple teenagers were injured in Merced after the bus that they were on overturned on the Martin Luther King Jr. Way off-ramp.
Merced County officials are saying that the accident took place around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Sixteen teenagers were on the bus and heading to a quinceañera.
The bus overturned as it was exiting the highway. Investigators believed that a mechanical failure led to the accident.
Several of the passengers on the bus were taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Bus Rollover Accidents
Thousands of people are injured every year in bus accidents in the United States. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “on average, about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury.” Rollover accidents can be particularly dangerous and may be caused by a variety of different factors.
- Poor road conditions
- Driver error
- Mechanical malfunctions
- Tire failures
Bus companies are considered common carriers in California and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Pursuant to the Judicial Council of California Civil Jury Instructions, “Common carriers must carry passengers [or property] safely. Common carriers must use the highest care and the vigilance of a very cautious person. They must do all that human care, vigilance, and foresight reasonably can do under the circumstances to avoid harm to passengers [or property].” This includes taking steps to ensure that buses are regularly inspected and well maintained. If a bus company fails to maintain their buses in a reasonably safe condition and this leads to an accident, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
The FMCSA requires buses that can carry 16 or more passengers to have at least $5,000,000 in liability insurance. Any person that is injured in a bus accident can seek some measure of justice through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that can come from an unexpected accident. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Getting Help After A California Bus Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to all of the teenagers injured in this collision. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Merced bus accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of bus accident attorneys are here for you. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991. Se habla español.
