Accidents involving tour buses and other types of commercial vehicles often impact large numbers of individuals. A trail is currently underway related to the negligent actions of one tour bus driver who crashed the tour bus he was driving, killing 13 people aboard and injuring an additional 15.

The accident happened in March of 2011 when the tour bus was returning from a casino trip. Traveling as speeds upwards of 80 miles per hour, the bus struck a guardrail which caused it to careen off the road and rollover onto a signpost. The force of the collision tore the top off of the bus leading to the horrific deaths of 13 passengers and severe injury of 15 others.

The bus driver claimed the accident was caused by a tractor-trailer truck that swerved in front of him. Witnesses and those who survived the crash, however, do not recall seeing any tractor-trailer. Rather they contend the bus driver was overly-fatigued and had been driving erratically for several miles prior to crashing the bus.

The bus driver had not kept or submitted any driver’s logs as required by federal safety regulations. What’s more, the bus company for which he worked had not asked for the log history or taken actions against him for violating federal safety regulations.

After the horrific bus crash, the tour bus company was shut down for safety violations.

In addition to the criminal charges currently pending against the bus driver, those injured in the crash may also chose to file personal injury lawsuits. Additionally, families of those killed may file wrongful death lawsuits.

Source: KMPH, “NY prosecutors: Driver in fatal crash knew risks,” Colleen Long, Sept. 27, 2012