The mother of a honors high school student recently filed a $100 million lawsuit against FedEx after her 17-year-old daughter was killed in a flaming bus crash in northern California, alleging that the delivery company’s big rigs have a tendency to catch on fire.
According to a report by San Diego Union-Tribune, the FedEx big rig allegedly veered across the highway median into opposing traffic and collided with the tour bus, which was carrying 44 students and their chaperones to Humboldt State University for a preview weekend visit. Five high school students, three adult chaperones, and both drivers were killed in the accident.
The lawsuit alleges that FedEx trucks have been known to catch fire due to mechanical defects, driver negligence, or negligent cargo loading. Some witnesses at the scene even reported that the big rig was already on fire before the accident; however, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that there was no evidence that the truck was on fire before the crash.
The estate of the FedEx truck driver is included in the suit for negligence as well as the bus owner, Silverado Stages, since the bus allegedly did not have adequate exit doors to allow all the passengers to escape.
Unfortunately, fatal school bus accidents are not uncommon. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that approximately 24 children die every year in bus crashes, with head on collisions resulting in the most devastation and death.
In order to reach a successful outcome, it is necessary to have a skilled and experienced legal team on your side, like the Houston personal injury law firm at VB Attorneys. In some cases, it can be difficult to identify all the culpable parties, but a knowledgeable lawyer can investigate the cause and fight to hold the responsible parties accountable. When another’s reckless actions have led to serious consequences in your life, you deserve to have strong legal representation and guidance.
If you have suffered serious injuries or worse in a San Diego bus crash, do not hesitate to reach out to the Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers. We are dedicated to helping families overcome the many hardships following a serious accident or loss of a loved one.
