Bus Accident Lawsuit Settled in Minnesota
Driver fatigue can contribute to bus accidents
The bus accident attorneys at Pritzker Olsen are representing several families of high school students involved in a motor coach accident, and recently settled one of the clients’ cases for an undisclosed amount.
In spring 2008, a group of 43 high school students was returning from a band trip in Chicago back to their home in Minnesota. The bus crashed on Interstate 94 just south of Albertville, Minnesota after the bus driver fell asleep around 6 a.m. One student died and several others were seriously injured.
“Unfortunately, driver fatigue can be a common issue in bus accident cases like this,” said attorney Elliot Olsen, who is representing victims and their families. “Drivers can also become distracted by things like texting, multitasking, or they may become distracted by passengers on the bus.”
Bus Accident Lawsuit: Why you need an experienced attorney
“An experienced bus accident attorney will know exactly what needs to be done to gather as much evidence as possible,” Olsen said. One of the first steps is to locate the bus’s electronic control module, or “black box.” This provides valuable information about how the accident may have occurred. Another key piece is the driver’s log book, which can indicate whether the driver was fatigued and may have been breaking the hours of service rules, which dictate how long a driver can safely operate the vehicle.
Pedestrian Killed by Metro Bus was Jazz Artist
A highly talented Twin Cities jazz musician and educator whose career had taken her to Brazil and back was struck and killed in a Metro Transit bus accident as she crossed a street near her home in South Minneapolis this week.
Officials have identified the woman as Mary Ann O’Dougherty, 55, who was best know for performing Brazilian music as well as for singing in French and Portuguese. Her husband of 16 years, Steve Alm, told the Star Tribune that she was on her way home and had just gotten off the light rail train when she was hit crossing Minnehaha Avenue a 46th Street about 6:35 p.m. Wednesday.
While Metro Transit authorities investigate how the fatal accident occurred, the driver of the bus has been placed on paid administrative leave, a transit official told the Star Tribune. The driver told officials he did not know he had hit anyone. He was a mile away from the accident scene when he was notified.
Alm told the Star Tribune that his wife went to Brazil to pursue her music career. She performed there and also owned a bar. In the Twin Cities, O’Dougherty play in more than one group and also taught in St. Paul schools for a number of years. She was born and raised in Minneapolis and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1975.
A knowledgeable bus accident attorney knows what steps to take after an accident. Among the special considerations is that your situation must be considered in light of state and federal guidelines. Buses are common carriers — like planes and trains — and are obligated to provide a higher level of safety.
The bus accident lawyers at PritzkerOlsen Attorneys have years of experience in handling personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits that stem from motor vehicle accidents of all kind, including buses. To contact our attorneys, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit a free consultation form.
Boy Slips Under School Bus And Is Run Over
A 5-year-old boy suffered critical injuries Wednesday in Minneapolis after he slipped on an icy patch and was run over by a school bus.
Police identified the kindergartner as Gabriel Grieling. The Star Tribune reported that Gabriel was waiting for the bus with his mother about 6:45 a.m. at E. 32nd Street and Elliot Avenue when the accident occurred.
Minneapolis Police Sgt. Bill Palmer gave this account to the Star Tribune: “When the driver pulled up, the mother asked him whether it was her son’s bus. When he told her it wasn’t, they stepped back, the driver closed the door, looked around and started to move.”
Palmer said the boy had apparently slipped on ice and the bus rolled over him. His injuries include a broken leg and broken pelvis. He was listed in critical condition after surgery.
Palmer said the driver won’t face charges, but this accident may result in slip and fall claims. Municipalities and other governmental bodies are provided some immunity from liability for injuries arising from slips and falls on slippery streets and sidewalks, meaning most of the time they are not liable for these injuries. But there are exceptions to their immunity.
In a recent Minnesota case involving slip and fall on ice and snow, the court stated that immunity “does not protect the municipality in the case where an accumulation of ice and snow is negligently permitted to remain for such a length of time as to cause the formation thereon by artificial means, of slippery and dangerous ridges, depressions and irregularities to such an extent as to render the street or sidewalk dangerous and unsafe for use”. Read about Minnesota slip and fall on ice and snow.
This Minneapolis school bus accident may also involve claims against the driver of the bus, the bus company and others. Buses are common carriers and are obligated to provide a higher level of safety. They fit into the same category as trains and planes. Liability issues in bus accidents often involve driver negligence, driver training, dangerous roadways and weather conditions. Read Minnesota bus accident attorney information.
