California has a serious bus problem, and we need to act right away so that more people don’t get hurt.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 29, 2014
Party buses and charter buses have become a common site throughout California. Whether employed as a means of getting away on a weekend vacation or spending a night hitting some bars with friends, these vehicles have proved exceedingly popular in recent years.
Unfortunately, the increase in the number of buses criss-crossing the state of California has also prompted a troubling rise in accidents. An exceedingly large number of buses are at the center of a series of deadly and injurious mishaps that have brought the safety of the industry into question.
Incidents captured by the media have portrayed the fallout that occurs when parts of buses are defective, when operators fail to be put through rigorous safety checks, and when obfuscation becomes common in a bid to avoid liability.
The lawyers of the Nagelberg Bernard Law Group have witnessed these incidents play out and decided to lend their voices to the growing number of organizations calling for change. Larry Nagelberg, who has been serving Southern California as a personal injury attorney for over three decades, thinks the time is ripe for legislators to do something about this troubling trend.
“I’ve seen too many incidents to just chalk things up to a mere coincidence,” said Mr. Nagelberg. “California has a serious bus problem, and we need to act right away so that more people don’t get hurt. Vehicles are being left in service for too long, they’re being kept on the roads with shoddy parts, and they’re operating with far too much leeway. If we don’t act now, these tragedies will continue to cloud California’s future.”
With that in mind, the Nagelberg Bernard Law Group wants to address the two biggest issues facing California citizens looking into this form of transportation.
Party Bus Accidents
California party buses have been in the spotlight following a series of disturbing occurrences in which persons have fallen out of the buses that were supposed to be safely carrying them to their destinations.
The California Highway Patrol is tasked with inspecting these vehicles on a yearly basis, but clearly not enough is being done to verify that the safety of passengers is assured. With California law already restricting access to alcohol among minors on these buses, the next step for lawmakers will be turning their attention to strengthening the rules affecting party bus operators and vehicle maintenance.
Charter Buses
Charters have gained popularity over the years, especially among casinos. But this past December, three separate buses crashed in a timespan of only a few days, indicating that something is amiss within the industry. These incidents prompted an investigation by Southern California Public Radio that uncovered serious safety concerns involving inadequate maintenance and shoddy record-keeping. Their results were featured in a January 22 article aptly entitled “Tour bus safety: Regulators struggle to keep up with casino bus boom.”
With these buses skyrocketing in popularity as of late, it’s imperative that California officials make sure the buses do not slip through loopholes in proper regulatory action.
“We can’t stand idly by while these accidents continue to happen,” said Mr. Nagelberg. “The CHP needs to start cracking down on all those buses that fall under their jurisdiction, and in cases where they don’t have the power to do so, lawmakers need to step in to ensure that their own constituents aren’t being put in danger for doing nothing more than going out for a night on the town.
“In the meantime, I ask that all consumers conduct in-depth research so that they know whatever bus they’re thinking about boarding, whether that be a party bus or a charter, has a safe track record.”
The Nagelberg Bernard Law Group represents the victims of numerous types of personal injury situations, including automobile accidents, dog bites, slip and fall incidents, defective products, and wrongful death in any of the above. They have guided injured persons through the legal process for more than 30 years and their efforts have helped secure more than $400 million in compensation for clients. Visit the Nagelberg Bernard Law Group online for Los Angeles personal injury resources and a free consultation.