North Hills freeway Bus Accident Injures 40 People
North Hills freeway Bus Accident Injures 40 People
A freeway bus crash left 40 people injured after the vehicle smashed through a concrete barrier on the 405. The San Diego freeway bus accident happened at about 1pm on Sunday Oct. 14, when the bus was travelling along the northbound 405 near the North Hills area. It was spotted turning sharply to the right, before suddenly veering left across four lanes of traffic and crashing through the central barrier onto the southbound side of the freeway. The incident was covered by various news outlets, with the Daily Mail even carrying dashcam footage of the crash which was captured by a nearby car.
The driver of the public transportation vehicle – Ophelia Rodriguez, 60 – told police that a pick-up truck with a trailer had cut in front of her, forcing her to make an evasive maneuver and lose control of the bus. More than 40 people were checked for injuries at the scene. Of those people, 25 were taken to nearby hospitals for further treatment, with five considered to be in serious condition. The section of the 405 freeway was closed for around 10 hours while emergency services worked at the scene.
Bus Crash Causes
California has the most registered buses of any state in the U.S., with more than 98,000 buses on the roads. Buses are larger and typically offer more protection to passengers than cars, but are not immune from harm. This larger size, slower speed and lack of maneuverability – as well as driver behavior – can also contribute to crashes occurring. In this case, authorities are still in the process of conducting a thorough investigation of the crash. A forensic check of the bus will be carried out to ensure it had no mechanical issues which may have contributed to the incident. Police have also confirmed that they are looking for the driver of the pick-up truck mentioned by the bus driver.
Liability Issues
When you step onto a public transportation vehicle such as a bus, you are putting your trust in the driver and the vehicle. But Bisnar Chase has seen and handled bus crash cases which have involved significant injuries and fatalities.
Liability cases can extend to victims ranging from passengers on the bus, to motorists, pedestrians or cyclists who are caught up in a crash. The experienced bus crash attorneys at Bisnar Chase can help victims and their families to examine the circumstances of a collision and establish whether a party should be held financially responsible.
