Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer - Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus)

Morehouse Bus Crash On I-75 in Georgia

M. Brandon Smith — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:03:19 GMT

Around 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 31^st, a charter bus carrying 42 members of the Morehouse University marching band ran off the shoulder of I-75, flipped several times, and finally came to a rest approximately 30 feet from the roadway. There were numerous injuries reported and one Morehouse band member sustained serious injuries in the bus wreck. Several students were rushed to local hospitals and all but one were released after treatment and evaluation.

What caused this bus accident? Right now, it appears to be a mix of unlucky rainy weather conditions and poor highway driving. Preliminary investigations reveal that the bus driver tried to avoid another vehicle that cut into his lane and then lost control of the bus on the slick, rain-drenched pavement. Morehouse president Robert Franklin put it best when he said that Saturday “was a frightening day…but thank God not a tragic day.”

Photos of the Morehouse Bus Accident are shown here.

Others has views and input on this Morehouse College Accident as well.

In the interim, the investigation into exactly what happened and why will continue in the coming days and weeks ahead. One of the latest concerns deals whether the bus driver invloved was even allowed to be driving the bus in the first place.

The bus company, Superior Transportation Group, is one of a dozen bus carriers the Georgia Public Service Commission lists as being unauthorized to operate within the state.

The PSC listed a 2008 complaint against the company and said Superior was among the list of 12 charter companies the Commission believes are operating in Georgia "without the lawful authority necessary to legally conduct intrastate transportation of passengers and their luggage."

And Morehouse officials on Monday said the school never contracted with the company to transport the band on Saturday.

"Morehouse College hired Adventure Bus Charter and Tours Inc., based in Sumiton, Ala.," spokeswoman Toni O'Neal Mosley said in a statement released Monday. "We are conducting an internal investigation to determine how Superior Transportation Group, Inc. in Atlanta, was involved."

Mosley said the school's internal investigation is looking into just what company or organization was operating the bus during the accident.

We wish all the best for the band members involved and their families during this very difficult time.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

Gwinnett, GA Bus Catches on Fire

Jessica Smagacz — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:14:34 GMT

Gwinnett County in Georgia had their second bus fire this past Thursday morning on I-85 North near Indian Trial, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC).

The first time a Gwinnett bus caught on fire was March 27th on Nancy Hanks Drive near Best Friend Road in Norcross. The cause of the fire was blamed on a faulty turbo charger. The result of this fire had the driver and a passenger abandon the 42 seat bus.

For this current bus fire that happened on Thursday, two Gwinnett County fire engines were sent out just before 8 a.m. to the bus that was pulled over in the emergency lane on I-85. Heavy smoke was coming from the engine compartment of the bus and the fire was located pretty quickly. The fire fighters extinguished the fire fast and there was only damage to the engine compartment. Fortunately, there were no passengers on this bus.

AJC says that the cause of the two fires appears to be the same—a turbo charger in the exhaust system. This is a great concern to Gwinnett Transit officials. Phil Boyd, director of Gwinnett Transit said, “It was the same kind of failure. Turbo chargers, which are on all diesel engines, seem to be the weak link in the whole design.”

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

More Information on Greyhound Bus Wreck

Jessica Smagacz — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:15:24 GMT

ABC news provided additional details on the Greyhound Bus Crash that occurred near exit 165 on I-20 Westbound in Alabama. The bus was coming from Atlanta, Georgia.

There were actually thirty three people who were involved in this bus crash. Most were taken to local hospitals but eleven people didn’t suffer any injuries. Several passengers commented that this experience scarred them for life.

Robert Drake, one of the Greyhound passengers said, “It was like a movie, like Final Destination or something. I just thank God that we’re here.” Robert was actually sleeping when he woke up as the tire on the bus blew. He goes on to say, “it was like ping pong everybody was just going around going bam bam bam bam bam.”

As the tire blew out, “seats dangled over the edge and some passengers were trapped.” There was also a large gash split open in metal of the bus.

State troopers had to cut the seats out to break people out.

Another passenger said, “People were screaming because they were smashed under the seat and they were trying to get somebody to help.

More updates to come as the investigation continues.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

21 People Injured as Result of Greyhound Bus Wreck on I-20

Jessica Smagacz — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:25:31 GMT

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported that a Greyhound bus traveling from Atlanta, Georgia to Birmingham crashed on Interstate 20 West in Talladega County.

This accident occurred around 7 a.m. yesterday at exit 165 near Lincoln.

A preliminary investigation indicated a front tire blew out causing the bus driver to lose control and crash into a guardrail and bridge column.

21 passengers were injured from the Greyhound Bus wreck.

Fortunately, none of the injuries were life threatening.

AJC says, “If you believe that a friend or relative was on the bus, call Greyhound at 1-800-972-4583.”

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Comair Reaches Confidental Settlement With Decedent's Family Involving Flight 5191

M. Brandon Smith — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 10:13:56 GMT

In a follow up to the tragic Comair 5191 crash previously discussed, a settlement has been reported concerning one couple that died in the crash according to officials. The estates of Jessie Clark Benton and his wife Bobbie Benton, reached a confidential settlement with Comair, a Delta Air Lines subsidiary, recently after the decedents were instantly killed due to pilot error and negligence. The settlement is said to be the third one reached in the deadly air plane crash with the airline thus far.

The settlement is the third one between victims of the fatal crash and Comair, a regional carrier based in Erlanger. Comair reached settlements with the estates of Priscilla Johnson and Mary Jane Silas on April 16th.
The flight crashed on August 27th in the pre-dawn darkness shortly after takeoff from the wrong runway that was too short at Blue Grass Airport.
Comair has admitted to federal investigators that its pilots were partly responsible, but also said better systems for alerting airlines to taxiway changes might have prevented the crash. Blue Grass Airport, aircraft manufacturer Bombardier and the air traffic controllers' union have put most of the blame on the pilot and co-pilot. The co-pilot, James Polehinke, was the only survivor of the crash.
Twenty-nine lawsuits on behalf of 38 passengers were filed against Comair.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

10 Most Dangerous Airports In The United States

M. Brandon Smith — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:38:04 GMT

Is your airport a safe one or did it make the Forbes.com 10 most dangerous airports list? The answer just might surprise you depending on your response. The report listed North Las Vegas as the most dangerous airport in the United States followed by Charlotte Douglas International, Long Beach (California), Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Los Angeles International, Boston-Logan International, Newark International, Chicago O'Hare, Philadelphia International, Chicago Midway International, Daytona Beach, and Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International. According to the report, aviation accidents typically occur on take offs and landing with only a handful occurring while in flight.

Most fliers worry about crashing in-flight even though only 74 commercial aircraft have crashed since 2001, despite more than 10 million flights annually. But travelers face far more danger during takeoff or while landing, according to Federal Aviation Administration figures. These figures for 452 airports were analyzed by Forbes.com editors, who examined the size of the facility, the numbers of takeoffs and landings, and the severity of the incidents as categorized by the FAA.
Analysts blame congestion, weather, poor runway design and pilot error. Many say the problem is only getting worse.
Runway mishaps have risen 37% since 1995. Incidents peaked at 401 in 2001, then fell off during the recent aviation recession. But now they are on the rise again. Last year, 330 runway incidents occurred, up from 240 in 1995.
Noticeably absent from the most dangerous airports were some the nation's biggest and busiest facilities: JFK and LaGuardia in New York and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

Georgia Helicopter Crash Ends In Death-Passenger Seriously Wounded

M. Brandon Smith — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 02:27:34 GMT

A Georgia helicopter pilot recently died and seriously wounded his passenger after the helicopter suddenly fell from the air. The aviation accident occurred near Highway 81 close to the Walton and Barrow County line. Eye witnesses say they saw the helicopter hovering around in the area shortly prior to its crash. The passenger was sent to Grady Memorial Hospital via Life Flight. The extent of his injuries are still unknown at this time. Authorities investigating the accident hope to determine what caused the helicopter to crash after conducting a more detailed evaluation of the incident. The names of those involved in the helicopter crash have not been released.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

Plane Crash Leaves No Survivors

M. Brandon Smith — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:47:27 GMT

Recently near Columbia Metropolitan Airport, a small plane crashed leaving no survivors. The plan had left Columbia earlier in the day as it went to Rock Hill, Virginia. Authorities investigating the wreckage are still not certain what caused the plane to crash on its way back from Virginia.

According to wsbtv.com:

The airport reported visibility of a mile and a half and worsening at the time the plane disappeared. The wreckage was spotted this morning by a State Law Enforcement Division helicopter that had been delayed form joining the search until shortly after 6 a.m.
The Lexington County Sheriff's Department says it's not immediately clear how many bodies were found. Officials earlier said they thought three people were aboard.

Aviation accidents are very complex matters that require an experienced attorney in this area of law to adequately represent those injured and left behind in such tragic situations. We here at InjuryBoard.com have many personal injury attorneys that can help the families of such victims in their greatest time of need. As always, the consultation is free of charge to any and all seeking more information. .

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith