Greyhound Bus Crash in Ohio Injures 34
A Greyhound bus crash in Ohio over the weekend led to dozens of passenger injuries.
The crash occurred just before 4 a.m. Saturday, when the bus veered off Interstate 75 north of Cincinnati and flipped onto its side into a cornfield. At least 34 people, including the driver, were injured, but fortunately there have been no serious injuries or fatalities reported, according to USA Today .
The cause of the crash is still unknown, and authorities are currently undergoing an investigation to determine what happened. What questions still need to be answered to determine potential liability?
Negligence, Common Carrier Questions
If driver negligence was involved, then the bus driver may be held liable for the injuries.
Negligence is found when the defendant owes a duty to someone, breaches that duty, and causes injury that leads to damages. So far, there are no direct indicators that the Greyhound bus driver was negligent, but some common examples of actions cited in negligence claims include speeding, driving under the influence, or driving while distracted in any way. Driver exhaustion can also be a factor.
It is also important to know that buses are considered common carriers, which are held to a higher standard of care. A common carriers is generally defined as an entity whose business transports people or goods from one place to another for a fee. This typically includes commercial passenger buses.
Potential Defects?
If the bus driver did not act negligently, however, who else could potentially be found liable? If the cause of the accident is found to be a manufacturing defect in the bus that was entirely out of the hands of the driver, then a product liability lawsuit is possible.
In general, product liability exists when a defective product put on the market has caused an injury. If proven, a manufacturer or seller can be held liable for injuries caused by a defective product. Product liability claims can lead to negligence claims as well.
Luckily, there were no fatalities in Saturday's Greyhound bus crash in Ohio. Most of the injured passengers have been released from the hospital, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Related Resources:
- More than 30 hurt as Greyhound bus overturns in Ohio (Reuters)
- Tour Bus Accidents and Liability (FindLaw)
- Tour Bus Crash Injures More Than 50 in SoCal (FindLaw's Injured)
- Sky Express Bus Crash: 4 Crashes, 46 Violations (FindLaw's Injured)