• March 13, 2019
• CMZ Law
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Who is at-fault in the Texas church bus accident?

A horrific bus crash in Texas recently left 13 dead and two injured. Now, as new details emerge about the accident, it appears the driver of the pickup truck that collided with the church minibus was distracted and potentially under the influence of medication.  The accident happened when the 20-year-old driver of a pickup truck crossed the center marker on U.S. 83, striking a bus head on.  The bus was carrying several senior citizens on its return venture from a church retreat.  Tragically, the bus driver and all but one passenger perished in the crash.

Distracted Driving and Fault

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the driver of the pickup admitted to texting at the time of the accident.  Several witnesses have come forward and stated that they saw the truck swerving prior to the accident.  There are also reports of the potential involvement of medication in the crash.  In light of this evidence, the family members of some accident victims have already filed personal injury lawsuits seeking compensation for their losses from the young driver.

Texting while driving is a common but dangerous practice in Texas and elsewhere across the nation.  As a country, most of us are increasingly attached to our smartphones.  For many, it is difficult to put the phone away, even when driving.  However, texting while driving costs thousands of lives each year.  The National Safety Council reports that texting while driving is six times as likely to cause a car accident than driving drunk.  This incredibly hazardous practice will draw your eyes away from the road for at least five seconds, which is more than long enough to cause an accident.

It can be difficult to determine whether a driver who hit you was distracted at the time of the crash.  Cell phone records are often a powerful means of gathering evidence of distraction.  Your personal injury attorney will assist you in uncovering evidence in support of your personal injury claim.  If you can establish that the driver who hit you was distracted at the time of the crash, then the driver will typically be deemed at-fault and liable for your damages.