Megabus Lawsuits Filed Over Several Accidents This Month

At least two lawsuits have been filed over separate Megabus accidents that have occurred so far this month, raising concerns about the training provided for Megabus drivers and the safety of the large passenger buses. 

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed last week by the family of Donna Ann Halstead, 76, who was killed as a result of injuries suffered when she was struck by the mirror on a Megabus as she was crossing the street in downtown Chicago last week.

Halstead was crossing an intersection on August 7, as the Megabus was making a left turn. The incident occurred just days before it was reported that Megabus settled another wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of Wes Kruger, who was also hit under very similar circumstances in 2010. The incidents have raised concerns about training provided for drivers and the large blindspots on the buses, which are often double-deckers.

The company also faces a new lawsuit as a result of a different Megabus accident that occurred earlier this month in southern Illinois, when a Megabus slammed into a concrete overpass. At least one person was killed as a result of the Megabus crash and dozens were injured. A 19 year old passenger on the bus filed the first personal injury lawsuit stemming from the crash this week.

That accident is believed to have occurred when the Megabus suffered a blown out tire while travelling at a high rate of speed. The complaint filed as a result of that crash alleges that Megabus failed to properly train its employees and that the Megabus was travelling too fast for the conditions the time of the crash

A similar accident involving a tire blowout on a Megabus occurred earlier this month near the Georgia and South Carolina border. No injuries were reported in that incident, but a fire ripped through the back of the bus shortly after all passengers were evacuated on the side of the interstate.

Photo Courtesy of david_shane via Flickr/CC