On June 27, 2022, a Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) bus crashed into a parked tractor trailer, injuring 20 people. The LADOT bus crash happened in El Segundo at approximately 8:25 a.m.
Authorities say the LADOT bus hit a semi-trailer parked at 2310 East Imperial Highway near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and overturned onto its side. Seven people were taken to the hospital, including three who were listed in critical condition. Thirteen other people sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate.
El Segundo Fire Chief Deena Lee said early evidence suggests the tractor trailer was parked so that it could be off-loaded. The LADOT bus clipped the side of the tractor trailer, causing the bus to overturn onto its left side. Crash victims were able to escape through the emergency exit on the roof of the bus. The truck driver was one of the victims who sustained serious injuries. At this time, it is unclear whether the truck driver was inside the vehicle or outside the vehicle when the accident occurred.
Photos of the truck, which is registered to Herc Entertainment Services (Herc Rentals), show the driver’s side door smashed along with some other serious damage. A sign in the area near the crash site says “No Stopping At Any Time.”
What Caused the El Segundo Bus Crash?
The El Segundo Police Department is investigating the cause of the LADOT bus crash near LAX. Bus crash investigations typically take months to complete. According to Wisner Baum bus accident lawyer Timothy A. Loranger, multiple entities could be held liable for this crash, which he believes was preventable.
“It does seem like the bus driver should have had enough time to avoid clipping the truck if they had been keeping a proper look out,” says attorney Loranger. “That said, if the tractor trailer was parked on the side of the road illegally, the trucking company could also face liability in this accident.”
Loranger says that if LADOT is found to be at fault for the accident, the statute of limitations to file a case is only a matter of months. “It’s unfortunate that victims are forced to confront legal options while they are recovering from their injuries,” Loranger says. “But I want to make it clear for anyone who hopes to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, or other damages against LADOT. You will need to prepare to file a claim quickly, so I would advise you to consult with an attorney as soon as you are able. This way, you will not be time-barred from pursuing a claim.”
Los Angeles Bus Crash Statistics
According to government statistics, Los Angeles County had over 200 bus crashes, roughly half of which resulted in injuries. Los Angeles County bus crashes account for roughly 1/3 of all bus crashes in the state of California.
Los Angeles Bus Crash Lawyer
Bus accident attorneys from the Los Angeles law firm of Wisner Baum have handled more than 100 bus crash cases over the past 30 years. Our firm has a proven track record of success litigating cases for injured bus passengers and their families. In one of our cases, we successfully represented 27 passengers injured in a single bus accident.
In 2020, bus accident lawyer Timothy A. Loranger was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation in Los Angeles by Best Lawyers®. This award can only be earned by one lawyer who receives the highest overall peer feedback in one legal practice area in one metropolitan region. It is a distinction that exemplifies an exceptional level of trust and respect that a lawyer earns from his or her peers in the legal field.
Some reasons to choose our Los Angeles bus crash lawyer team:
- Won more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients across all practice areas.
- $10 million settlement for victims of a school bus crash in Orange County, California.
- $6.2 million settlement for a single bus passenger.
- $1.9 million won for a tourist who suffered an untimely death during a foreign bus accident.
- Extensive experience with complex choice of law and difficult insurance coverage issues.
- The firm’s successful bus litigation is featured in the book, Reckless Disregard.
- Conducted an international grass-roots bus safety campaign to move the fuel tank to a safer location on school buses.
For a free and confidential case evaluation, please contact our Los Angeles bus accident lawyers online or call (855) 948-5098.
