Bus Crash in New Jersey June 24th - Sun Lee Bus Co

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Morgan Adams

Whenever there is a major bus crash, like the one in reported recently that injured 24 in Atlantic City on June 24th, the passengers (and this case the driver, and the folks in the cars struck by the bus) need good lawyers ASAP. First because there may be limited funds to divide between the injured victims (insurance for buses and tractor trailers has not increased since the 1980's, and what was a lot of money in 1980 sure isn't now, 30 years later. See my blog on the topic here) to pay for their injuries and medical bills. Second, because these cases are never easy, even tough they seem as if they should be.

In this case the issues in the crash will apparently be why the brakes failed and why the driver wasn't aware the brakes were in such poor shape that they were going to fail. The owner of the bus company may not have performed required maintenance or failed to train it's driver to properly inspect the brakes (as is required under the law). The brakes may also have failed from a hidden manufacturing defect, and that issue will have to be carefully scrutinized,  although it is the least likely cause.

Luckily there are some great lawyers in the NJ area who have experience in trying major cases involving commercial motor vehicle accidents. If you have not read my posts on why you need experienced tractor trailer and bus lawyers for your cases stop, and read my posts here, here, and here. I have more posts on the topic, but these are a good start.

Off the top of my head I can think of several New Jersey Lawyers (that also practice in New York if need be) that fit the bill. The good experienced lawyers will be hired quickly (as there are not many who know their way around a major crash like this), and they may not be able to take your case if they are already representing one of the other families. Putting off hiring a lawyer is not something I would tell one of my family members to wait on with a wreck of this magnitude. Consider contacting one of these experienced New Jersey lawyers: 

  1. Mike Ferrara
  2. Michael Maggiano
  3. Larry Simon
Tags: , , , , ,

Bus Crash in California Leaves Ten Dead and Colusa Casino Possibly Liable Under Both Broker Liability and Negligent Hiring Theories

Posted on October 7, 2008 by Morgan Adams

 

This is the type of matter my firm handles on a nationwide basis. I hope the families read my posts on how to hire a qualified lawyer for this type of case. It is clear they will need legal help, and someone with experience.

 

This bus crash, and the fatalities, should never have happened. First there were apparently no seat belts on the bus, a subject I have posted on extensively. Failure to have a seat belt means that passengers will be ejected from the bus, most likely resulting in a fatality. Secondly, the bus had false DOT numbers and other problems that clearly made it a danger. Given the DOT numbers were false we know a few things:

First we know that there is probably no insurance.

Second we know that the Casino is responsible for the wreck under a theory of negligent hiring and/or broker liability. The leading case in this area is Schramm v. Foster, 341 F.Supp.2d 536 (D.Md. 2004) Essentially those that hire folks to drive have a duty to check them out and make sure they can drive safely. Had the casino or broker checked out this bus company it is clear they would have found the sham and never hired this bus and driver. The Casino failed to do so, hired an unsafe, unregistered, and unknown driver because they were cheap. 10 people paid with their lives.

Tags: , , , , , ,