EspañolInvestigation Underway After University of Southern California (USC) Bus Collided With Los Angeles Metro Train By Normandie Avenue and Figueroa Street
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (May 1, 2024) – At least 16 people were injured in a collision between a USC bus and a Los Angeles Metro train along Exposition Boulevard near the USC campus.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place around 11:54 a.m. on Tuesday morning. A Los Angeles Metro E line train was crossing through an intersection when it collided with a USC bus.
Photos of the accident site showed major damage to the front and left sides of the USC bus. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims.
A total of 16 people were injured in the crash, and around nine people required hospitalization. A full investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Los Angeles Bus Accidents
Though buses are generally quite safe for their passengers, many people are still injured in bus collisions each year. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “on average, about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year.” There are a number of steps that bus drivers should take in order to prevent collisions.
- Bus drivers are supposed to check their blind spots before making turns.
- Bus drivers should be well rested before heading out onto the road.
- Bus drivers should slow down during periods of heavy traffic.
- Bus drivers are supposed to stop at all railroad crossings.
Bus companies are considered “common carriers,” and their drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. According to the Judicial Council of California Civil Jury Instruction, “Common carriers must carry passengers [or property] safely. Common carriers must use the highest care and the vigilance of a very cautious person. They must do all that human care, vigilance, and foresight reasonably can do under the circumstances to avoid harm to passengers [or property].” If a bus driver fails to slow down in order to avoid an oncoming train, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous liable parties for any train accident. The municipal entity responsible for a railroad crossing could potentially be held at fault. Pursuant to California Government Code 835, a public entity could be liable for a dangerous condition on its property if (1) the property was in a dangerous condition at the time of the incident, (2) the injury was proximately caused by the dangerous condition, and (3) the dangerous condition created a reasonably forseeable risk of the kind of injury that occurred. Certain steps should be taken after any bus accident.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records related to the crash should be preserved.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- An experienced Los Angeles bus accident attorney should be contacted.
The vast majority of bus accidents involve some amount of human error. Buses can be difficult to drive, even in the best of circumstances. But far too often, bus collisions involve instances where drivers are violating traffic regulations. Any person who is injured in a Los Angeles bus accident may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A bus accident attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Getting Legal Help After Los Angeles Bus Accidents
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all the people injured in this USC bus accident. It is our sincere hope that all of the victims will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong for the sake of all impacted.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Los Angeles bus accident? You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Our team of bus accident attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to getting accident victims the support and justice that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we may be able to help. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
