Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
Eighteen people were injured in a recent truck and bus accident in Miami. The traffic accident happened shortly after noon at 17th Street and Northwest Seventh Avenue in Miami. The bus accident involved a FedEx truck and a Route M Metrobus, according to Miami-Dade Transit.
The Miami Herald reports that the driver of the FedEx truck was not injured in the accident. The accident allegedly happened when the FedEx truck ran through a red light and slammed into the Metrobus. The FedEx truck driver has been cited for the accident.
“I was sitting in the back, and I just heard the screech and the slam; people were flying everywhere,” said a bus passenger.
Our Miami bus accident lawyers understand the serious and fatal injuries that can result from a mass-transit accident. The Miami public transit system includes the Paratransit, the Metromover, the Metrorail and the Metrobus. The Miami-Dade Transit is one of the biggest departments of the Miami-Dade County government. The Transit estimates that there are more than 350,000 daily boardings. With the large size of the department, accidents are unfortunately common. The transportation department is responsible for providing safe travel to thousands of residents daily.
The Metrobus offers rides across the county, from West Miami-Date to Miami Beach and from Broward Boulevard to the Middle Keys. These public buses connect more than 90 routes that travel nearly 30 million miles a year through about 800 buses. Many of the routes run 24 hours a day.
Unfortunately, most bus accidents happen in metropolitan areas, like Miami. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that there are about 1,000 people injured each year in inter-city and cross-country busing accidents. These types of accidents kill about 50 people every year.
Top Causes for Bus Accidents:
-Other vehicles stopping in a bus lane.
-Quick lane changes.
-Veering off the roadway.
-Pedestrian encounters in bus lanes.
-Speed
-Weather conditions.
The size of transit buses, coupled with the lack of seat belts and other safety devices, can be a recipe for disaster. Officials are required to ensure that buses are adequate for safe transportation and that drivers are properly trained to operate these vehicles.
Since many busing companies are public entities, claiming compensation for damages and for injuries as the result of an accident can be complicated because the government is involved. Investigations ultimately result in the government investigating the government. Because the government is involved in these accidents, there are strict time limitations for filing claims and for taking legal action. If you have been involved in a busing accident it is critical for you to contact an experienced attorney to help you walk the legal line towards receiving the compensation you deserve.
If you or a family member has been injured in a bus accident in Broward/Fort Lauderdale, Miami-Dade or the Port St. Lucie area, the South Florida personal injury lawyers at Freeman & Mallard are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Call today to schedule a free and confidential review of your case, 1-800-529-2368.
Additional Resources:
Bus-truck crash in Miami injures 18, by Alfonso Chardy, Miami-Dade Herald
More Blog Entries:
FHP Uses Operation Safe Driver Campaign to Help Reduce Bus and Truck Accidents in Tamarac and Elsewhere, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, October 16, 2011
Miami-Dade Transit and Metrorail Recruits Bus During Protest — Increasing Risks of Bus Accidents in Miami, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, August 25, 2011