Several People Injured In Tulare When Greyhound Bus Rear-Ended Semi-Truck On Highway 99
TULARE, CALIFORNIA (November 9, 2022) – Several people were injured in a Tulare Greyhound bus accident with a semi-truck on Highway 99 by Bardsley Avenue.
Tulare County officials are saying that the accident took place around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday. A Greyhound bus was traveling down the road when it rear-ended a semi-truck.
CHP investigators determined the bus driver failed to slow down in time to avoid the collision. The bus continued after the initial collision before hitting a guardrail.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. There were a total of 23 people on the bus and two passengers were taken to the Tulare Regional Medical Center.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Tulare County Bus Accidents
Buses are considered common carriers under the law and 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.” There are a number of steps that bus companies should take in order to prevent accidents.
- Bus companies should ensure that their drivers are well trained.
- Bus companies should ensure that their fleet is well maintained.
- Bus companies should ensure that their drivers are properly licensed.
Bus drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid collisions. All bus drivers must maintain a safe speed and follow distance with any vehicle ahead of them. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21703, the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear ends another vehicle in their own lane. 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 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a bus accident may have legal 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 California Bus Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Tulare collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other accidents like this.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligence of a bus driver? Our team of personal injury 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 need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
