A tour bus driving through the night from a casino near the Salton Sea back to Los Angeles slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer rig on the morning of October 23 outside of Palm Springs, in one of the worst highway tragedies in California in decades. The driver of the bus and 12 passengers died in the crash, and at least 31 other passengers were injured when the bus collided with the truck at 5:17 AM. What caused the bus to slam 15 feet into the back of the truck is not yet known, and the California Highway Patrol and National Highway Safety Board are continuing to investigate.
Cause of the Deadly Crash is Unclear
Of the eleven victims who were identified, all were between their 50s and 70s and most had been sleeping when the collision occurred. Traffic had been periodically stopped on the westbound I-10 heading back to Los Angeles so that workers could lay wires across the road, and reports indicate that the bus had been moving faster than the truck as vehicles attempted to resume speed.
Tour buses are a common sight on California highways, and transporting people between large cities like Los Angeles and casinos further out in the California desert is a business that attracts many smaller transportation companies with older equipment and little track records. USA Holiday, the company that owned the bus involved in the crash, had only one licensed driver and owned only the one bus, which was made in 1996. Reports indicate that the bus did pass inspections conducted by the CHP in recent years.
Pursuing Justice Following Highway Tragedies
Although the cause of the crash remains unclear for the time being, generally such tragic accidents do not occur unless there is some kind of driver error or mechanical error involved. Individuals who are injured in highway accidents – whether involving cars, trucks, or buses – are encouraged to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident to begin the process of investigating potential negligence and filing claims against all proper defendants for the cost of all injuries endured, including pain and suffering. Moreover, family members of individuals who perish in highway accidents should work with an attorney to bring a wrongful death claim to recover their financial losses, including lost income and emotional damages.
Contact the Kaufman Law Firm Today to Bring Your Accident Claim
The Kaufman Law Firm has consistently won six- and seven-figure verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured car and truck accident victims and their families. The personal injury and catastrophic injury attorneys at The Kaufman Law Firm will work with you from the moment you call to investigate the accident and build your best possible case for recovery. Contact The Kaufman Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation.