Accidents in which commercial vehicles are involved are often serious and result in multiple individuals being injured. Many Ohio residents opt to use charter buses or vans to travel on sightseeing trips or as a means of transportation. Because of their size and function, companies which operate charter buses, motor coaches and vans must abide by safety laws established by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
FMCSA regulators recently shut down a business that operated a commuter bus and van service. The company had previously been denied operating authority after federal inspectors discovered operators were in violation of numerous safety laws and had failed to pay previously-imposed penalties.
Upon visiting the businesses' premises in January, FMCSA inspectors discovered the company was still illegally operating several 15-passenger commuter vans. Again, regulators took steps to shut down the company's operations and pursue civil and criminal charges.
In addition to operating without valid authority, the bus and van company was also found to be in violation of several safety laws including hours-of-service requirement for drivers. Additional violations included failing to properly inspect and maintain operating commercial vehicles and failing to perform regular safety inspections of such vehicles. Moreover, even when safety defects where discovered, defective and dangerous vehicles were still used to transport unknowing members of the public.
Thankfully in this instance federal regulators were able to intervene prior to any major accident occurring. In recent years, there have been several reports of accidents involving similar negligent companies in which passengers are seriously injured or killed.
Individuals who have sustained injuries in an accident in which they were a passenger on a commercial vehicle such as a bus or van, may choose to seek legal advice. In many instances, such accidents are the direct result of negligence on the part of the bus or van operators or drivers.
Source: Boston Herald, "Feds Shut Down Springfield Bus Company," Laurel J. Sweet, March 13, 2013