Personal Injury Law

Bus Heading to Missouri Crashes; Kills 17

By Ryan Bradley, Esq.

Photo from Houston Chronicle/AP

A charter bus carrying members of a Vietnamese Catholic group from Houston to Missouri crashed on Friday killing 17 and injuring dozens more.

The bus, which carried a total of 55 people, crashed through a guardrail north of Dallas around 12:45 a.m. and ran over an edge along the road. The group on board was heading to Carthage, Mo. for an annual religious festival.

Authorities are still investigating the incident, but numerous potential safety and licensing violations have already been uncovered.

According to a Houston Chronicle report, the bus had its operators license revoked, was using expired temporary plates, and had improperly retread tires. One of the retread tires blew out during the crash, though it is not yet known if this is what actually caused the crash.

The companies that operated the bus, Angel Tours and Iquala Busmex, have had a history of federal violations as well. Angel Tours was actually banned from interstate travel in most states.

The driver, Barrett Wayne Broussard, 52, also has numerous criminal convictions including a DWI in 2001. Blood samples from Brossard are still being analyzed.

Many details still have to be revealed including what actually caused the crash and how a company with so many violations was able to charter service. A full investigation of this bus crash and the associated companies could take months.

The most important thing to do when injured in a crash like this is to contact a personal injury attorney. He will be able to follow the investigation and uncover any violations or negligence. In large scale crashes, such as the Texas crash, the investigation can be very long and complex. It is important that an experienced professional handles your case in a timely manner as crucial evidence can be lost if not promptly collected.

The Bradley Law Firm has handled cases like this for more than 30 years. If you or a family member has been injured by a negligent bus or trucking company, contact us as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights. Our lawyers can represent injured victims throughout the United States and regularly associate with counsel in states other than Missouri and Illinois to pursue claims. As always, we will provide a free consultation and you never receive any legal bill from us. We only recover a fee if we are successful on your case.

Full post as published by Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog on August 09, 2008 (boomark / email).