Riverside RTA Bus Crash

In a recent article by The Press-Enterprise, a RTA bus crashed into a full-sized pickup truck causing the driver to be injured. Friday afternoon in Riverside at about 1:11 p.m. six people were aboard the Route 12 bus when it crashed into a white Ford Ranger pickup truck at 14th and Orange street, causing the truck to roll onto its side. The truck driver suffered minor injuries but had to be taken out with the Jaws of Life machine as he was trapped inside of his vehicle. None of the passengers on the Route 12 bus at the time were said to be injured and they continued their trip via another bus. According to the article the agency’s internal investigation showed that the bus driver “was following proper procedure and had the green light at the time of this accident”. The incident is still under investigation.

When we are using public transportation our lives are put into the hands of another driver and we expect without really thinking, that we will be safe and reach our destination without incident. Many residents of the  Inland Empire are not able to drive our own cars and may rely on public transportation for assisting us on getting to work, to the store, or even to a family members house. We believe that these are trained professionals with many years of experience and therefore do not even think twice about letting them assist us on our everyday life journeys. That is until something like a car accident happens and then we are left wondering how something so tragic could have happened to us, how these trained professionals could have made a mistake that could have costed so many lives to be lost or changed forever. We also forget that the road is a very unpredictable place where so many things occur at one time and because of that in a split second a calm road can turn into a bumper to bumper accident. Due to the size of public transportation vehicles, injuries from accidents can be far worse than an accident simply involving two vehicles.

Unfortunate events like the one above happen more often than anyone would guess. When they do victims can be left with painful injuries and medical bills which all can be a substantial amount to deal with after something so awful has occurred. When accidents happen in California, victims have rights to recover from damages. There is often better chance of recovering compensation for the damages when hiring an attorney to fight for your case as attorneys may bring to light some overlooked evidence, expert strategy and general insight. Attorneys are able to file claims, take on settlements, and even fight your claim in a jury trial in the local civil courts.

It is important to do your research if you are caught in a destructive accident like the one described above. Transportation companies are well funded and have large legal teams whose goal is to pay as little when accidents like this occur. You as the victim want to ensure you have a quality professional handling your case to ensure the best outcome is reached when everything is settled. Find an attorney that is knowledgeable, has the background and experience, and is dedicated to fighting for their client’s case. Justin H. King is an experienced personal injury attorney that represents victims of bus and mass transportation accidents in the Inland Empire. The Law Offices of Justin H. King provides representation for victims involved in serious and traumatic accidents pertaining to auto accidents and wrongful death claims as well. Mr. King vigorously and compassionately represents his injury victims against insurance companies as he has achieved numerous six and seven figure results for his clients. You can visit his website or schedule a consultation at his office located at 3633 Inland Empire Blvd., # 250 Ontario, CA 91764.

Photo by Matthew Henry

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The Law Office of Justin H. King