Bus Accident Caused By Driver Entering Flooded Area
On behalf of Lovett Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, July 31, 2013.
On Sunday, a tour bus transporting 33 people to Las Vegas was involved in an accident in the Grand Canyon after the driver went into a flooded wash, causing the bus to be swept hundreds of yards down and to flip onto its side on an embankment. Fortunately, the passengers were able to escape on their own uninjured, but authorities are now looking into the possibility of charges for violating an Arizona law.
The law in question, referred to as the “stupid motorist law” requires drivers who enter flooded areas to pay for emergency responders. The company that owns the bus said that the driver had no warning about potential flash flooding in the area. That however, is dubious, as officials have said that there are permanent, well-maintained signs displaying warnings about flash flooding.
Commercial vehicle accidents, as our Texas readers know, can be catastrophic in their results. Over the last couple years, we’ve seen multiple accidents in which multiple passengers have been seriously or fatally injured.
Commercial vehicle drivers are bound not only by the rules of the road, but also by a variety of safety regulations. These regulations include rules governing vehicle maintenance, hours-of-service, emergency training, and so on. Companies and drivers who fail to keep these regulations put their passengers at risk, as well as other motorists.
Those who have been injured in a commercial vehicle accident involving a tour bus should contact an experienced personal injury attorney to see what options they have for obtaining compensation.
Source: El Paso Inc., “Bus driver who ignored Ariz. Flood may be charged,” Julie Jacobson, July 29, 2013.