Recent Megabus Tragedy Calls for Further Scrutiny of Curbside Carriers, says Fitts Zehl, LLP

HOUSTON, Aug. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 2, 2012, a double-decker Megabus traveling on Interstate 55 between Chicago and St. Louis lost control, causing the bus and its 64 passengers to tragically crash into a concrete pillar. While the investigation is ongoing, authorities believe a blown tire may be to blame for causing this tragic and ultimately avoidable accident.

"This is Megabus's fifth fatal accident in the past two years alone and, based on the number of injuries already reported, appears to be the most serious of them all," says Ryan Zehl, a bus accident lawyer at Fitts Zehl in Houston, Texas. 

What many passengers don't realize is that because Megabus operates as a "curbside" carrier—i.e., it picks up and drops off its passengers at curbside locations instead of bus terminals—the company is able to avoid a number of the stringent safety regulations that apply to terminal-based bus companies, like Greyhound.  How many more innocent passengers have to be injured or killed before the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration realizes that curbside carriers, particularly Megabus, pose a serious—and totally unacceptable—threat to passenger safety. 

"While it may take several months for the investigation to be completed, I would be extremely surprised if it didn't show that Megabus violated the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations by failing to properly maintain its buses, train its drivers, and require thorough pre- and post-trip inspections," states Zehl. 

"Regardless of the cause of today's tragedy," says Mr. Zehl, "I urge anyone who's considering traveling on a bus to investigate the company's safety history on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's website; which allows users to search the carrier's accident and safety history by name or US DOT number."

About the Bus Accident Lawyers at Fitts Zehl, LLP

Fitts Zehl is a Houston, Texas based personal injury law firm that represents clients from across the country who were injured in bus and truck accidents.  In December 2011, our bus accident lawyers recovered the #1 largest bus accident verdict ever awarded against Greyhound, the largest carrier in the United States, as well as the #1 largest accident verdict in the State of Texas.

For more information, visit the firm's website at www.bus-accident-lawyer.net or send an email to [email protected]

SOURCE Fitts Zehl, LLP