Verdict Expected In Deadly Bus Accident Case
A 60-year old bus driver will soon learn his fate, after facing homicide charges for a bus accident he is alleged to have caused last September. The driver, John Tomaszewski, suffered serious injuries himself, as did several passengers, when he crashed a double decker bus into a low overpass, causing the bus to tip on its side. Though there’s a good chance he will be found guilty, it isn’t yet clear if the prosecutor is seeking jail time.
According to CP24.com, the accident may have happened when Tomaszewski made a wrong turn and was consulting a hand-held GPS device. As a result, four passengers on the bus were killed. He was ultimately charged with four counts of criminally negligent homicide and one count of failing to obey a traffic control device.
Since the bus accident, Tomaszewski has been living with family. He suffered a traumatic brain injury in the accident and is in need of surgery. He was released without bail pending the verdict as the judge didn’t see him as a flight risk, and with good reason.
Although other passengers on the bus were injured, the status of any civil cases isn’t clear.
Civil and criminal cases in bus accident like this one are two entirely different matters. Though the criminal case may establish, without any doubt, who is at fault for the accident, a civil case isn’t seeking punishment for the driver, but compensation for the victims.
In such a case, the family members of those killed in the bus accident could be entitled to compensation for the loss of their loved ones. Similarly, those people who were injured could be compensated for their injuries. This compensation would come from the insurance company covering the bus at the time of the accident.
Because it’s believed Tomaszewski caused the accident, he wouldn’t be entitled to compensation. Had the bus accident been caused by a equipment malfunction or another vehicle, however, he might be.
Tomaszewsi’s medical condition is no doubt playing a part in whether or not the prosecutor will seek jail time. The Senior Assistant District Attorney on the case said he will consult with the victims’ families on what they hope to get from the case resolution before deciding.
In a tragic bus accident like this, jail time for the driver and even monetary compensation can’t fill the void left by the death of a loved one. But compensation can help cover the costs of a funeral for those parties that were killed and can help cover medical bills for those who were injured.
If you’ve been involved in a bus accident and are curious as to whether you might be entitled to compensation, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys with Omrani & Taub. We can offer you a free initial consultation to discuss your case and see how we might be able to help. Call us at 212-529-7848 (that’s 212-LAW-SUIT).
