Family Sues For Wrongful Death After Man Is Killed By Tour Bus
In a bus vs. pedestrian situation, the odds are against the pedestrian. Buses are large, heavy vehicles that can cause a lot of damage in a crash. Sadly, a bus recently crashed into a man pushing his broken-down SUV on the road, killing him. His family is now suing the bus driver and the employer.
The fatal crash happened on the morning of January 18 on State Route 417 in Orlando. The 30-year-old man was pushing the SUV, which had broken down near John Young Parkway. He was hit and killed by a bus that ran into him. His 28-year-old wife and 3-year-old son were injured in the crash.
There was surveillance video aboard the bus showing the driver and her reaction. She was apparently on her phone distracted at the time of the crash. She had her head down and was not even looking at the road. She never braked or tried to avoid hitting the man.
In the video, the bus driver can be heard saying, “Edward, I was just in an accident. I was just in an accident. And I was on the phone. I’m gonna be in trouble, Edward.”
The widow of the victim and her two sons, ages 3 and 5, are dealing with the loss of their loved one. The family recently filed a lawsuit, which names the driver, as well as the company she was working for, Mears Destination Services, as defendants. According to the lawsuit, Mears neglected to provide for a safe operation of its bus. The lawsuit is asking for damages in excess of $100,000.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. The driver faces traffic charges for her role in the crash and the family has been helped by a wrongful death lawyer.
Dangers of Distracted Driving
When you are distracted by something, such as texting, phone use, passengers, pets, eating, using the navigation, or reading, you are engaging in distracted driving. Distracted driving refers to not paying full attention to what is in front of you. You are taking your eyes off the road, risking a serious car accident.
Distracted driving is a serious issue, causing more than 3,000 fatalities every year. Cell phone use, particularly texting, is the biggest issue. Even sending a quick text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds, which is approximately the length of a football field.
Contact Us Today
Motorists should not be driving while on the phone or distracted in any way. Driving a huge vehicle such as a tour bus without paying attention to the roadway is especially deadly.
The Florida bus accident attorneys at Meldon Law can help you deal with the effects of a bus accident. Whether your loved one was seriously injured or killed, we’ll help you and your family get the compensation you need to pay for expenses. Schedule a consultation with our office today by calling (800) 373-8000 or filling out the online form. We have four offices to serve you: Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, and Fort Lauderdale.
Source:
wesh.com/article/tour-bus-crash-kills-man-417-family-attorney/39402010#
