Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What should I do if I have been injured by another party but I can’t afford a lawyer?”
A terrible charter bus accident in Virginia left one person dead and multiple people injured, including a couple from North Carolina. Authorities in Norfolk, VA say that the woman, Theresa Watson, is improving after suffering serious injuries. A spokesperson with the Norfolk General Hospital have said that Watson has now been upgraded to fair condition after initially being classified as in critical condition.
Tragically for Watson, her husband, Doval Emmanuel Watson, was killed after being ejected from the bus. The couple, from Chapel Hill, was on the bus to go on a college tour at Hampton University.
Police have said that the accident occurred when the driver lost control and the bus ran off the road and overturned in a ditch. Police have charged the 62-year-old driver, Larry Brocks, with reckless driving. The bus was owned and operated by a Washington-based company, Horizon Coach Lines.
Sadly, fatal charter bus accidents are not uncommon occurrences. Instead, accidents involving such large buses are frequently deadly because of the number of passengers onboard and secondly, because they do not have the safety features of passenger vehicles. Charter buses almost never have things like airbags and seatbelts, features that are standard on even the most basic passenger cars. This means that passengers are unprotected in the event of a crash and can be thrown from their seats, like the man in this case, which can lead to severe injuries, permanent disabilities and even death.
If you are ever injured in a crash that involves a commercial vehicle like a charter bus, it’s critical to reach out to an experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney. Cases involving company-owned vehicles can be tricky to understand, and it is helpful to have an experienced professional on your side when dealing with insurance claims agents or considering legal action.
Companies that privately run transportation services can be held liable for any damages caused by their vehicles as long as the driver was at fault. Those who are injured in charter bus accidents should be compensated for their lost wages and pain and suffering. Anyone who has lost a loved one can also consider filing a wrongful death suit against the company responsible for the tragedy, allowing family members to seek financial compensation for their profound loss.
If you, or someone you know, have any questions regarding personal injury claims, please feel free to contact the experienced personal injury attorneys and lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina at Arnold & Smith, PLLC for a free consultation. Call at 704-370-2828.
Source:
“Condition of NC woman injured in charter bus crash in VA improves; 1 dead, driver charged,” by The Associated Press, published at WashingtonPost.com.
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