As Thanksgiving is approaching, many of us, or loved ones, will be coming home from College using a Bus. During the holiday season many people will be using Tour or Coach Buses to travel to holiday destinations to be with loved ones or for scenic tours. Although many people hope to be safe, have you given any thought as to what would happen if there was a catastrophic accident, especially given the amount of passenger on these buses?
The minimum insurance limits for a bus have not been increased since the early 1980;s. This despite the fact that 750,000 in medical bills in 1980 is equal to approximately $5 million dollars today. Factoring in many busses can hold in excess of 100 passengers, the minimum coverage for a motor coach of $ 5 million dollars and $1.5 million dollars for school buses seems inadequate at best. There have been recent efforts to raise the deficient insurance limits, but according to Javerbaum Wurgaft partner Lawrence M. Simon, , “due to politics and some lobbying they are doing more of a study now.”
https://www.javerbaumwurgaft.com/lawrence-m-simon-2/
In a recent horrific fatal bus crash in California, the deficient insurance became obvious with 50 passengers. Although the price of the tour continues to escalate, the protection given to the passengers remained stagnant. “Human life is priceless, but the only way our courts are able to compensate is through money,” according to Simon
In an effort to keep all passengers and pedestrians safe, reputable Coach and Bus Carriers not only need to train their drivers and mechanics to be safe, but they must also prepare to meet their responsibilities if an incident occurs. Raising the insurance limits” will not significantly affect highly qualified safe companies.” Lawrence Simon, also chair of the American Association for Justice Bus Safety Litigation Group stated recently in the LA Times, “if higher insurance costs hit small operators, it may have the beneficial effect of weeding out marginal players who shouldn’t be hauling passengers in the first place.”
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-bus-crash-insurance-2016-1103–story.html
Safety is truly empty without an adequate remedy should harm occur. If you or a loved one have been injured while a passenger on a tour or coach bus, or even a school bus, call the attorneys at Javerbaum Wurgaft, we are here to help.
