TARC Bus Passenger Awarded Millions for Injuries

Here is another example of companies ignoring safety and putting profits over people.  In Louisville, Kentucky, a Jefferson Circuit Court jury awarded a disabled woman $4.2 million this week for injuries suffered in an accident that took place on a TARC 3 bus in 2006.  The passenger, or victim, broke her legs in nine places when she tried to get off the bus and the lift was lowered too far, which caused her wheelchair to drop and her to fall.  The passenger sued MV Transportation Inc., a California-based company that has a five-year - $45 million contract - with the Transit Authority of River City ("TARC") to operate and maintain the buses that serve the disabled.  MV's contract with TARC, although set to expire at the end of the month, was extended when TARC officials notified the company in December 2009 that it would exercise a two-year extension that allows MV to continue providing the service through September 30, 2012.

We hope this verdict will send a message to companies contracted and paid to operate and maintain public buses that it is not acceptable to not call for an ambulance until 25 minutes after a passenger falls from a bus.  Investigation revealed that two company supervisors were summoned to the scene before the ambulance was called; and, further, that the supervisors interviewed the driver and took photos while never speaking to or attending to the fallen passenger who lay on the metal lift in 25-degree weather.  It was more than 50 minutes before the passenger victim reached the hospital from the site of the accident.  The jury's decision to award millions was a clear message sent to the company that it was unacceptable to have its supervisors arrive at the scene of the fallen passenger, to instruct the driver not to say a word, to take the victim into a car, and to not check on her although she was observed to be laying and screaming while the company's supervisors were trying to complete their investigation.  Prior to the incident, the passenger, 69, was fairly independent although she suffered from multiple sclerosis; in fact, she just earned a certificate to perform pastoral work at Baptist Hospital East when the unfortunate events of this incident occurred and she is no longer able to care for herself.

According to the company's website, MV Transportation operates in more than 20 states, has more than 100 offices, and employs more than 12,000 employees.  Perhaps, this significant financial penalty will force the company to reassess their safety procedures and to put people before profits.  After all, this company is hired to transport the most vulnerable members of our society and getting paid $9 million per year to do this.  Based on its clientele, years of experience, and compensation for services rendered, the company should have known to handle this incident much better and to avoid further injuring its passenger.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a bus, car, truck, or motorcycle accident, please don't hesitate to contact Gray and White Law immediately for your free legal consultation.  The best lawyers in Kentucky are available and prepared to learn more about the case and to answer any questions you may have.  Simply contact us at any time by dialing toll-free at 1-800-634-8768 or by sending an email to mwhite@grayandwhitelaw.com.