Around 11 a.m. on March 24, 2022, an 18-wheeler slammed into a charter bus on I-10 near the Port Allen/Plaquemine exit in West Baton Rouge Parish. This accident took the life of the truck driver, put about 50 passengers on the bus in danger, and closed the interstate for more than five hours.

Investigators from the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office determined that the driver, employed by Kingdom Trucking in Hurst, Texas, rear-ended the bus.

All the bus passengers, traveling from Mexico to North Carolina, were “ok,” according to reports from WAFB in Baton Rouge.

Truck and Bus Accidents Are Not Uncommon

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for large vehicles to cause serious injuries or even deaths in a collision. According to the ​​Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development, trucks and buses were involved in 14 percent of all fatal crashes in Louisiana in 2021. This accounts for 120 fatal accidents and almost 3,000 injury accidents statewide.

From what we know thus far, it is unclear if any injuries occurred to passengers on the bus in this accident. This crash could support numerous personal injury claims or lawsuits if injuries occurred.

Truck and Bus Accident Victims May Seek Compensation

When a passenger on a bus—or occupant of a passenger car—is hurt because a truck driver carelessly causes a crash, the injured victim may have a viable insurance claim or lawsuit. Under La. Civ. Code Art. 2320, Louisiana also allows them to hold the trucker’s employer legally responsible in most cases.

This could allow them to pursue money for costs and losses such as:

• Medical care
• Future treatment and support
• Lost wages and future missed income
• Property damages
• Pain and suffering

If you believe you or a loved one may qualify to pursue an injury claim against a truck or bus carrier, speak with a Baton Rouge personal injury lawyer. Act quickly, though. You may have a year or even less under the state’s statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits, La. Civ. Code Art. 3492.

Connect with Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers

Whether a bus accident involves a tractor-trailer, another bus, or a passenger vehicle, the passengers on the bus may be able to take legal action to recover compensation from the liable party or parties.

You can speak with an attorney from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers about your bus accident or tractor-trailer collision today for free. Our case consultations are free, and we manage cases based on contingency fees. We serve Lafayette, Alexandria, Marksville, New Orleans, and other areas of Louisiana.