No pedestrian should ever have to worry about being struck by a commercial vehicle driver, particularly one that works for a government entity. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened to a University of Pittsburgh senior in January of 2020. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorneys want to discuss this incident as well as the charges that a transit bus driver is now facing. Pedestrian safety is at the forefront of our minds right now, particularly as pedestrian traffic has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Happened In This Transit Bus Crash?
The incident in January that took the life of a University of Pittsburgh senior occurred at the intersection of DeSoto Street and Fifth Avenue in nearby Oakland. Police say that a Port Authority bus struck the victim and that the student later died at the hospital due to her injuries.
Shortly after the accident took place, the bus driver was suspended, pending an investigation. Now, months later, the driver has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and three other accounts.
According to police investigating the incident, they say that the Port Authority driver struck the student while she and two others were legally using a crosswalk on DeSoto Street. The driver’s view was allegedly blocked by a passenger she had just picked up where there was no bus stop. The passenger remained in front of the bus driver after boarding, on the other side of the line where passengers are supposed to stand. Instead of waiting for the passenger to take their seat, the driver continued onto DeSoto Street, but her view was blocked by the passenger. That was when the bus driver struck the student.
Police officers have determined that the accident was a result of the driver operating the bus with a passenger blocking the view of the mirrors, in violation of federal regulations.
Aside from involuntary manslaughter, the driver has been charged with reckless driving, hitting a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and engaging in unlawful activities (operating with the view blocked).
According to data available from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, we can see that there were 622 crashes involving commercial buses during the latest reporting year across the Commonwealth. Out of these incidents, 413 were injury-causing crashes, and there were 16 fatal crashes.
Let Our Team Help Your Case Today
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by the negligence of another person, let the team at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman help you today. Our Pittsburgh traffic signal violation accident attorneys have extensive experience handling these cases. We pledge to investigate every aspect of what happened in order to secure the following compensation on your behalf:
- All medical bills related to the pedestrian accident
- Recovery of lost wages if you are unable to work
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Possible punitive damages in cases of gross negligence
If you need a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-98-TWINS(89467).