Wrongful death lawsuit has been filed despite lack of official report on the cause of the accident
On April 10, a charter bus set out from Los Angeles carrying 43 students and three chaperones. Before it reached its destination, Humboldt State University, five of the students and all of the chaperones were dead. It has taken weeks for officials to piece together the chain of events leading to the fiery crash that took these lives and injured many more people, and families are still waiting for the final report that will determine the exact cause of the accident.
According to an accident report released by the National Transportation Safety Board, a FedEx truck with two trailers crossed over the median of the 5 Freeway, first hitting a passenger vehicle and then crashing into the bus. The truck and the bus were both badly burned. A total of 10 people died as a result of the accident, including both of the drivers. A total of 31 people suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe and were taken to local hospitals.
While the accident report established the basic chain of events, investigators from the California Highway Patrol and the NTSB have said that is will take months to establish the cause of the accident and liability for damages. All possible factors are being considered, including road and weather conditions, driver error, and equipment failure.
One family has already filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking $100 million in general and punitive damages. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of FedEx, based on previous incidents of vehicles catching fire. According to some eyewitnesses, the FedEx truck was already on fire before it hit the bus.
The lawsuit also names the FedEx driver as well as the bus company as defendants. The bus accident attorney representing the family has told the media that they are keeping their options open while officials work on the investigation, to ensure that the suit will include all possible liable entities.
Although this is the first lawsuit to be filed, it is highly likely that other deceased victims’ families as well as injured individuals will also prepare claims.
This tragic case highlights the fact that resolving personal injury or wrongful death claims can be a time-consuming process, especially when detailed official investigations are necessary to establish liability. Families may find it hard to support themselves financially during this time with breadwinners lost or out of work due to injuries. Fortunately, victims can pursue legal action to hold liable parties responsible for their actions without incurring additional financial burdens. Skilled bus accident attorneys such as Fernand D. Vargas help victims and their families by taking cases on a contingency fee basis, so no payment is needed unless the case is won.
