Driver is killed on 10 Freeway in fiery crash involving Metro bus
In the evening hours of Tuesday, April 30, 2019, there was a fiery accident that resulted in the death of at least one person – at least five people suffered injuries. The accident occurred on the westbound 10 Freeway in the city of Alhambra. According to reports of the accident, a Metro bus stalled in the express lane due to electrical issues. Within a short length of time, a car crashed into the back of the stalled bus – causing the car to erupt in flames. The driver of the vehicle that crashed into the bus was trapped inside the vehicle; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Were you or your family directly affected by the incident mentioned above? Were you or your family affected by a similar incident? Whether you suffered injuries or a member of your family lost his or her life, you might have grounds to pursue a claim. Depending on the specific details of your claim, you might even be eligible to receive compensation for the damages suffered.
Would you like to learn more about the possibility of pursuing a claim against the party or entity liable for the accident and the harm caused by the accident? If so, we recommend that you seek legal assistance with the knowledgeable bus accident attorneys at Downtown L.A. Law Group as soon as possible. Downtown L.A. Law Group is a personal injury law firm with many years of experience handling a variety of personal injury claims and wrongful death claims surrounding bus accidents. If you would like to discuss your claim with the experts at our law firm, do not hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience.
Understanding the Cause of the Accident
According to the incident report, as mentioned above, the bus was stalled on the express lanes due to an electrical issue. Although specific details surrounding the accident are still unclear, it is likely that the bus came to an abrupt stop. Considering this, the vehicle that was traveling behind the bus likely had little to no time to avoid the collision. Since the bus stalled due to electric problems, it is possible that there were no lights (either brake lights or emergency lights) to warn the driver of the stalled vehicle; therefore, it is likely that the stalled bus only became visible to the driver after it was too late.
Liability for the Accident
Who is liable for the accident? Some of the most common causes of vehicular accidents involve negligent actions from the drivers involved. Was the bus driver negligent for stopping the bus on the express lane? Was the car driver negligent for failing to avoid the collision? Some might argue that the drivers were not negligent. However, since the bus had electrical issues, liability for the accident might fall back to Metro LA. Was Metro LA aware of the electrical issues on the bus involved in the accident? Could the company have addressed the electrical problems on the bus prior to the accident? Did Metro LA fail to properly inspect the bus for issues prior to allowing the bus to get on the road? Did the manufacturer of the bus (note: Metro has worked with many manufacturers over the years) fail to address the electrical hazard present on the buses before making them available to Metro? Depending on the specific situation, both Metro and the bus manufacturer could be liable for the harm suffered due to the accident. In general, liability is based on four elements – duty of care, breach of duty, cause, and harm. Both manufacturers and Metro have a duty of care to passengers; they must ensure that their buses are safe to drive. By breaching their duty of care (failing to identify and address hazards), they can cause an accident; in turn, the accidents could lead to harm – including injuries and death. If these four elements are present, liability could be established. For more information about liability and establishing negligence, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm as soon as possible.Could You Sue?
Do you have the right to pursue a claim against the party liable for the harm that you and your family suffered? Without a doubt, you the right to sue – especially if you can prove that the accident was caused by the negligent actions of a party or entity. What specific action can you take? Depending on the specific harm caused by the accident, you could pursue either a wrongful death claim or an injury claim. If a member of your family died in the accident, you could file a wrongful death claim. If you sustained injuries related to the accident, you could file an injury claim. In general, the action you can take depends on whether you were directly or indirectly affected by the accident. For more information about your right to sue, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at Downtown L.A. Law Group as soon as possible.Could You Recover Compensation?
You have the right to sue; do you also have the right to recover compensation? Your right to recover compensation depends on the specific details of your claim. Although every claim is different, victims and their families are often eligible to recover some of the following types of compensation:- Medical expenses
- Medical expenses before the victim’s death
- Lost income
- Loss of financial support in case of death
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Punitive damages
Important Timelines to Sue
If you are interested in filing a claim against the party or entity that caused the accident that resulted in your injuries or the death of a member of your family, you must ensure to take action within the appropriate length of time. Both wrongful death claims and injury claims are subject to strict timelines. If claimants fail to file their claims within the time allowed by the statute of limitations, they will lose the right to sue – and the right to receive compensation. In California, wrongful death claims and bus accident injury claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. If you would like to learn more about the statute of limitations and any exceptions that might apply, do not hesitate to contact our experts as soon as possible.Contact Our Law Firm Today
If you or a member of your family was harmed in the bus accident incident described above or any other similar incident, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm as soon as possible. The bus accident injury and wrongful death lawyers at Downtown L.A. Law Group have many years of experience representing victims and their families – aggressively fighting for their right to be compensated. If you would like to discuss your claim with the attorneys at our firm, do not hesitate to contact us today. When you contact us, you will find that our law firm offers free legal services. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with the guidance necessary to begin or continue your claim. If you would like to schedule a free consultation or free second opinion, do not hesitate to contact our firm at your earliest convenience. You could contact Downtown L.A. Law Group without having to worry about expensive legal fees. Our firm offers a Zero-Fee guarantee that ensures that you will never have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees for any of our services. Our law firm is also strictly based on contingency; therefore, our clients will never have to worry about paying anything until after winning their claims. Even then, legal fees are paid from the compensation you recover; therefore, you will never have to pay anything out of pocket. If you are ready to discuss your claim with our lawyers, contact us as soon as possible.Over $1 BILLION Recovered
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