At 3:33 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, an Ohio Coach charter bus crashed into a concrete median on the Pennsylvania Turnpike just outside Mount Pleasant. Following impact, the bus swerved up a steep embankment before rolling backward into westbound traffic, creating a pileup also involving a car and FedEx and UPS trucks. The highway was closed for 86 miles for several hours.
The bus, carrying 56 passengers, had set out from Flushing, N.Y. and was headed toward Cincinnati. The bus driver and two passengers, including a nine-year-old child, died at the scene. Two UPS workers also were killed. At least 60 others, ranging in age from seven to 67, were injured and were treated at area hospitals.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was investigating the cause of the accident, including whether driver error, speeding or weather conditions were involved.
Who is Liable?
The NTSB probe should determine whether there was negligence on the part of the driver and/or the charter bus company. If appropriate, civil legal action could follow against the responsible parties.
To determine liability for civil purposes, it is best to have an experienced charter bus accident lawyer on your side. Your attorney will investigate your accident independently, establish liability, and use that information to build a claim that seeks compensation for related damages.
Due to the number of people involved in bus accidents and the different state and federal laws that apply, litigating these cases is extremely complex. It is always a good idea to choose a law firm with the experience and resources necessary to help you get fair and full compensation.
Why Choose Us?
Kline & Specter, PC is one of the most trusted and respected law firms in the United States. Our award-winning attorneys are known for their competence, thoughtfulness, and effectiveness.
Dedicated and persistent, we have secured several major victories for our clients, helping victims of serious injury get the compensation they need to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and personal pain and suffering.
In one case, one of our attorneys won a $38.2 million verdict against the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and a Delaware County town on behalf of a girl who was severely injured in an auto accident at a notoriously dangerous intersection. The firm won a $14 million verdict for a teenager who lost her leg after she was struck by a school bus, while in another case our lawyers secured a $19 million jury verdict that was paid in full for a roadside worker struck by a vehicle operated by a hospital employee. Kline & Specter also recovered $25 million for a Pennsylvania school teacher injured by a negligently operated 18-wheeler. And, in yet another case, the firm won a $4.3 million verdict for a college student who was run over and his foot severed by a bus while crossing the street at the University of Pittsburgh.
Kline & Specter -- the largest plaintiffs firm in Pennsylvania, with 45 attorneys, five of whom are also medical doctors -- has the resources to uncover all facts that contributed to an accident. We are prepared to take your case as far as needed to help you get the compensation you are due.
Contact Us for a Free Case Review
For a free case evaluation with one of our experienced bus accident lawyers, please call 215-772-1000. We have offices in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, and New Jersey. We serve victims of life-altering injury throughout the United States.