Bus accident epidemic gets federal action
In a move that came too late for too many bus accident victims, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has halted approval of any new bus carriers until the feds get a fix on a problem that’s claimed 20 lives in two crashes in just the past week.
The government was responding to a problem created by a loophole in regulations which allowed bus lines with poor safety records to keep operating after supposedly being shut down. This was the case in the North Texas bus accident Aug. 8 in which 17 Houstonians were killed, after chartering a bus line which had been shut down for being unsafe but was simply operating under a new name.
The FMCSA “is concerned about these rogue operators, the chameleon carriers, who get put out of business and then come right back under a new name,” said the agency’s Kristin Schrader in Washington.
Such a case involved Angel Tours of Houston, which was shut down for safety lapses. Its owner, Angel de la Torre, then was able to set up another bus line called Iguala BusMex almost instantly, simply by paying a $300 fee to the state. That bus line operated from the exact same location, so essentially it was the same unsafe operation, just under a new name.
This strategy paid off with continued operations, but it backfired when a BuxMex bus with a retreaded tire — a clear safety violation — had a blowout which apparently led to the fatal crash north of Dallas. The bus driver, it turned out, also had a DUI record.
Today’s federal action will surely help, but clearly the charter bus industry needs much closer scrutiny, given the many bus accidents causing injuries and deaths in just the past few months, including casino tour bus accidents. It’s sad that it takes such tragedies to spur action which might have prevented them had it come sooner, but it’s better late than never, and could save potential future victims of bus accidents.
If you or a loved one has suffered in a bus accident, a bus accident lawyer with Jim S. Adler & Associates is standing by to help. The firm offers a free case review and, if your case is accepted, works on a contingency basis with no retainer fee. You pay nothing unless your case prevails, and then only a percent of the recovery.
So forget the old bus line slogan of “Leave the driving to us.” Instead, leave your legal assistance to Jim S. Adler & Associates.
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