Vashon Island, WA — A driver suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized after being hit by a tour bus on Vashon Island, Washington, on Wednesday, September 17, 2014. The accident happened in the 24700 block of Vashon Highway Southwest.
Police are saying that three tour buses in the area full of kids on a field trip were driving along Vashon Highway when one crashed into a passenger car. The driver, who hasn’t been named, was taken to Harborview Medical Center with critical injuries.
There were no injuries aboard the bus, although 18 children were all taken to Harborview as a precaution.
Police are still investigating the scene of the accident. Right now, what caused the bus to crash into the car is unclear.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
Who’s at fault in the accident isn’t really clear from what’s been reported on in the news. In any case, I’m sure this was a difficult situation for the bus driver, driving around a bus full of young kids, who I’m sure can get pretty loud at times. If it turns out the bus is at fault, I can say that getting into an accident with a commercial vehicle is much different than getting into an accident with a passenger vehicle. A trucking company is going to have quite a bit invested in any accident. There’s the insurance policy, which is already much higher than your typical vehicle. Then there’s the driver and the time and money they’ve spent training him. Then there’s the truck itself. Being found liable in an accident is going to make a dent in a company’s bottom line, and so they’re going to do everything they can to defend it. Many trucking companies have attorneys on staff whose job it is is just to work accidents like this. This is all they do and they’re very good at it. Important information to keep in mind for anyone who finds themselves in this kind of situation.
— Grossman Law Offices
