New Haven residents may recall hearing of a recent accident between a city bus and a truck that injured 22 people, five of whom required hospitalization. A truck rear-ended the CT Transit city bus, heading to downtown New Haven and carrying 29 people, during a Monday morning rush hour.
The truck, which was carrying kitchen grease, collided with the bus just as a passenger was loading a bicycle onto the front of the bus. The bus jolted forward, and the passenger ended up underneath the bus. The truck later caught fire.
Emergency crews appeared on the scene of the bus accident within minutes. The driver of the truck was one of the victims taken to the hospital for treatment. The bus driver was not injured. Some of the injured parties refused treatment.
The cause of the bus accident remains unknown. It is unclear if negligence of either party contributed to the unfortunate situation. Police are reviewing the contents of a video camera that was on the bus to learn more about what factors played a part in the crash.
Connecticut residents using public transportation may feel helpless in situations like this, knowing that accident prevention is largely out of their control. They are also likely unsure of appropriate steps to take, or who will compensate them if they are injured in an accident while riding public transportation.
Victims of accidents involving city transit can recover compensation for the public transportation company’s negligence by bringing suit against the city involved. If another driver caused the accident, they can bring a personal injury lawsuit against that driver. An experienced advocate can help determine who was liable and how much compensation victims are entitled to after a serious public transportation accident.
Source: Ctpost.com, “More than 20 injured in bus accident,” May 14, 2012.