An accident in Rancho Mirage, California, caused a chain-reaction crash, involving six vehicles, including a party bus transporting 11 passengers and a driver. The multi-car accident was triggered when a sedan rear-ended the party bus and the party bus was pushed into the vehicle in front of it, causing a full-blown chain reaction wreck.
Nine people, including a few traveling on the party bus, were injured in the rear-end accident. Seven accident victims suffered from pain as a result of the accident, two experienced moderate injuries. Police believe that the driver of the sedan was under the influence of alcohol when he caused the chain-reaction motor vehicle accident on Monterey Avenue.
Privately-Owned Bus Liability After a California Accident
While it is not believed that the party bus driver was at-fault in the California car accident, private bus liability is very different than liability for the average driver. If the party bus had been at-fault in the chain reaction accident, and there were injured victims riding in the party bus, the victims may have an injury claim.
Responsibility for private bus accidents in California is triggered when a bus driver or company fails to provide the utmost degree of care in transporting its passengers. If the driver or the bus company acted in an unreasonable manner, and violated the duty of care set forth for common carriers, an injured passenger would likely have a personal injury claim against the bus company.
Examples in California where a private bus company has been held responsible for injuries after a bus accident include when the driver:
- Shut the door on passengers
- Failed to clean a spill or other slip-and-fall hazard
- Drove when passengers were not safely seated
- Drove while texting or otherwise drove distracted
All of these examples provide insight into the type of care bus companies and bus drivers are required to provide their passengers.
Buses are required to provide passengers greater care because passengers entrust their safety to the bus company when they pay for their transportation. This "common carrier" liability often extends to other forms of mass transportation, including cruise ships, buses, limousines, planes and trains. Part of the heightened responsibility also stems from the greater degree of possible injuries that can be sustained in a bus accident where passengers are not usually belted into their seats.
If you or a loved one has been injured on a privately-owned bus, coach or other vehicle, contact a knowledgeable California bus accident lawyer. An attorney with experience handling bus accidents will be able to assist you in understanding your rights after an accident.
