A 70-year-old woman is dead following a tour bus crash close to Neils Harbour on the Cabot Trail on the afternoon of July 13. Including the driver, there were 21 individuals on the bus at the time of accident. A representative of the Cape Breton Health Authority noted that 18 people who were involved in the crash received treatment at various hospitals in the region. The 70-year old woman died as the result of her injuries on July 14, says the RCMP.
Two additional bus passengers suffered severe injuries and were first taken to a Cape Breton hospital. Later, they were both transferred to a hospital in Halifax where they have been listed in stable but serious condition. Everyone on the bus is believed to be from Pennsylvania; they were in Nova Scotia for a tour.
Officials say that the accident occurred when the bus hit the shoulder of the road and overturned onto its side after the driver apparently lost control going into a turn in the road. A sergeant with the RCMP said that the bus underwent a mechanical inspection and the findings were being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.
If a bus crashes due to a mechanical problem such as faulty brakes, the bus company, maintenance company and manufacturer may all be held liable for any fatalities, injuries or property damage resulting from the accident. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit following a commercial bus accident may be very complex due to the number of defendants. A personal injury lawyer with a background in commercial vehicle accident claims could assist a family with such a wrongful death claim by reviewing the evidence as well as the commercial bus operator’s record to identify a history of negligent operation or lax driver screening.
Source: Cumberland News Now, “Woman involved in bus crash dies“, Laura Jean Grant, July 14, 2014
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