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Bus Accidents

Due to the enormous size of a 20-ton bus and the lack of seat belts, the victims of bus accidents die or suffer permanent injuries. After the first accident, some shocks usually result in increased destruction. In a bus accident, passengers often experience one or more serious shocks within the limits of the bus. They are usually thrown from their seats and beaten against other seats, walls or windows. They can throw themselves at each other. Many accidents happen because a bus driver pays attention, drives fast or sleeps quickly. While the country recognizes lawyers in bus crashes, we receive answers that help us understand the cause of an accident. Our team knows where to look and what questions to ask. That’s what we saved millions for injured victims. Pennsylvania-based Penn legislators have been identified in the country for collecting millions of dollars for bus-related injuries in most states. We have provided more than $ 50 million to our customers for careless and reckless truck and bus drivers, as well as for companies that do not manage, supervise, train, or win.

On February 10, 2018, at approximately 6:13 pm, a double-decker bus from Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) blocked the Tai Po Road at Tai Po in the New Territories. In the crash, 19 people were killed and 65 injured. This incident was the second most deadly road accident in Hong Kong after the 2003 Tuen Mun Road incident, which killed 21 people.

The Volvo Super Olympian bus (with Wright Explorer bodywork, fleet number AVW78, license plate LX 9991) used route 872, a special lane reserved for horse racing. He left the Sha Tin Racecourse after a day of running at the Tai Po Center in the new town of Tai Po. Before getting on the bus, the driver spoke to a bus enthusiast for a while. It was reported that the bus was delayed 10 minutes from the racetrack, which caused some passengers to be reprimanded and argued with the driver. The passengers stated that the driver was frustrated and that he “drove very fast as if he was having a temper tantrum”. They said he drove “very, very fast” all the time, without slowing down. As the bus rolled on a sloping section of the Tai Po Road near Tai Po Mei Village, he arrived at a bend in which he turned left, striking a lamp post and destroying the Tai Po bus stop. Mei. Eighteen people were killed at the scene.

Immediately after the accident, passengers attempted to physically attack the driver. Firefighters had to get on the bus to rescue people trapped inside. This process took about 85 minutes. By the side of the road, a makeshift morgue has been set up. The death toll was 19 when a man died at 4 am the next morning at United Christian Hospital. Without this person, 65 people were injured. The affected section of Tai Po Road was closed after the incident for 12 hours. Other bus lines that normally operate on the route have been diverted to the Tolo highway. The following afternoon, the road was partially closed again to hold a ceremony attended by some 200 grieving people, government officials and KMB management.

The bus company posted on its Facebook page: “The KMB deeply regrets this accident and apologizes deeply, saying that the company would provide 80 000 HKD to each affected family and would form a committee to investigate this accident.” On February 15, in response to concerns expressed by unions and the public the KMB announced in 2018 that part-time workers working less than 18 hours a week would not benefit from a shift , which would equate to about 209 people. 360 part-time workers Returned to KMB 872 for passenger safety, a new 872X expressway was launched. It bypasses the Tai Po Road (where the accident occurred) and instead uses the Tolo Expressway.

According to the Independent Review Board of the Hong Kong Independent Franchise Bus Service, created after the accident, KMB plans to spend HK $ 200 million to install seat belts on older KMB buses in Hong Kong to increase bus safety. They also tested the driver’s anti-drowsiness device, which uses facial recognition software to detect the driver’s level of attention. In addition, KMB announced that 160 buses equipped with electronic stability and speed limiter systems are expected to arrive in Hong Kong in August 2018. KMB has also attempted to reduce drivers’ special shifts from 14 to 13 hours.

On the night of the accident, Executive Director Carrie Lam visited the victims at Prince of Wales Hospital and announced the creation of a separate investigative commission under the authority of a judge, including to investigate the safety of the public transportation system. . public buses. She added that the relatives of the victims would each receive $ 300,000, while the victims ranged from $ 150,000 to $ 250,000. These funds were provided by several charities, including the Jockey Club, Tung Wah Hospital Group, Yan Chai Hospital and Pok Oi Hospital. The government also announced that the flags would be flown at half-mast and during annual lunar new year fireworks. The visit to Victoria Harbor scheduled for February 17 is canceled in a sad case. On March 13, 2018, Justice Michael Lunn, Vice-President of the Court of Appeal, was appointed Chair of the Board of Inquiry, consisting of three members.

The day after the crash, the General Union of Motor Transport Workers organized a press conference to criticize KMB’s working conditions. They stated that the low cost of services resulted in a shortage of drivers, stating that the drivers were not adequately trained or inadequately staffed. In the same way, the trade union federation pushed the company’s headquarters to protest against so-called low salaries. Kwok Wai-kwong, chairman of the KMB staff union, warned against hiring part-time drivers. She acknowledged that she was an amateur and stated that the company required her to work only for two days (while full-time drivers must complete an 18-day training). KMB driver Yip Wai Lam launched a spontaneous strike against some KMB drivers the following Sunday, bringing the bus company to negotiations on hours of work and working conditions.

The day after the accident, queues were waiting at Hong Kong Red Cross blood collection centers as thousands of Hong Kong nationals tried to help the wounded. The Causeway Bay donor center has extended its operating hours to accommodate the queue. The Red Cross announces the opening of 12 blood collection centers during New Year holidays. A KMB official said a 30-year-old bus driver, Chan Ho-ming, had been part of the company since 2014. The media reports that he has been working part-time since 2017 and that he is not assigned to any particular route, but usually operates on weekends with special trips. He survived an accident and was arrested for dangerous driving, resulting in death, and dangerous driving, resulting in serious injury. Chan appeared on February 13, 2018 in the Fanling Court District. In October, his charges were put to death. A judgment is punishable by imprisonment for life.

The company initially stated that Chan had a “good driving record”, had already flown the track and had rested enough before his shift. Contrary to KMB’s claims of good safety performance, the media claim that it ran another KMB bus that crashed on Kwai Chung on August 2, 2014, after a curbside violation and a column of stand at the bus station of Kwai Fong Station was skipped. A passenger and a pedestrian were injured. Later, KMB admitted that Chan had been involved in the accident. He was found guilty of driving, punished and fed. Then, the company considers it appropriate to continue its work. It is reported that Chan is a fan who works in the online community for bus enthusiasts. A friend said he had a “bad driving attitude.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediately after the accidents, passengers told the local media that the driver had exceeded the speed limit. Police said they suspected the bus was faster. They said that alcohol was not a factor in the accident. A bus passenger reported traveling between 80 and 100 kilometers per hour. Investigator Lo Kok-keung examines the fact that the bus enters the curve at a maximum speed of 68 km / h and indicates that a safe turning speed will be 30 to 50 km / h. The destroyed bus was removed from the site on the morning of February 11 and brought to Tai Lam Chung for examination. Police said the investigation covered the speed, the mechanical condition of the bus and the driver’s psychological state. The New Territories North Regional Crime Unit is investigating the accident.

REFERENCES

*Hong Kong bus overturns, killing at least 19 people”. The Guardian. Agence-France Presse. 10

February 2018.

* Ramzy, Austin (10 February 2018). “Hong Kong Bus Crash Kills at Least 18 and Injures Over

60″. The New York Times.

* Cheung, Jane (12 February 2018). “Part-time driver an avid bus fan”. The Standard.Chan,

Riley (12 February 2018). “Passenger tells of high-speed tantrum”. The Standard.

*Experts to examine wreckage from fatal bus crash”. RTHK. 11 February 2018. Archived from

the original on 11 February 2018.

* Leung, Rachel; Yeung, Raymond (11 February 2018). “Passengers claim bus driver was

‘throwing a tantrum’ before horrific Tai Po crash”. South China Morning Post.

 *Lam vows judge-led probe after Tai Po bus crash claims 19 lives”. Hong Kong Economic

Journal. 12 February 2018.

*Yau, Cannix (12 February 2018). “Hong Kong bus passengers furious with driver moments

after deadly crash, witness claims”. South China Morning Post.

* Tong, Elson (11 February 2018). “Tai Po bus crash: Hong Kong gov’t to set up inquiry as death

toll rises to 19″. Hong Kong Free Press.

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Luis Avila Esq.

Mr. Avila has built a reputation for being a relentless advocate for personal injury victims.

Since 1986, he has passionately fought for justice, handling hundreds of cases involving serious accidents such as auto and truck collisions, medical malpractice, construction site injuries, and civil rights violations.

Mr. Avila’s dedication to his clients is unmatched. He is Board Certified in Personal Injury Law, a distinction that highlights his exceptional skill and deep knowledge of trial work. His ability to craft compelling arguments and present persuasive cases has led to numerous favorable outcomes for accident victims.

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