Last week, a Sky Express bus that was traveling to New York through Virginia crashed on Interstate 95. Four female passengers were killed in the bus accident, with dozens of other passengers seriously injured. Officials have stated that driver fatigue played a role in the accident, but it turns out that the Department of Transportation was aware of several safety violations involving the Sky Express fleet months before the accident occurred.
In April, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) gave the Sky Express company an unsatisfactory safety rating after finding several shortcomings in vehicle safety and maintenance, including violations in:
- Driver qualification requirements
- Drug and alcohol compliance measures
- Hours of operation
- Vehicle maintenance
The Department of Transportation moved to prevent the discount tour bus company from making interstate trips in April, but Sky Express appealed the findings and the matter remained unresolved. Even though the DOT has now successfully banned the carrier from interstate travel, many parties are upset that no further measures were taken earlier to prevent an obviously unsafe tour bus company from endangering passengers.
If you or one of your loved ones has been injured in a bus accident in Virginia, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a personal injury lawyer in your area today using the Personal Injury Lawyer Directory.
