On Saturday September 11, a Philadelphia bus accident took the lives of four passengers. The driver, John Tomaszewski, allegedly missed an exit while driving 28 passengers from Philadelphia to Toronto, Canada. In an attempt to get back on to the highway, Tomaszewski used a personal GPS device - not one owned by the bus company - to find his way. Unfortunately, he overlooked a number of warning signs about an upcoming railroad bridge with a clearance of just 10' 9" (the bus was 13' 1"). Instead of winding up back on I-81, the bus smashed into the overpass. Four people died in the crash, including two teenagers, a preacher from Malaysia, and an Indian computer technician. All told, 20 passengers suffered injuries, and Tomaszewski himself suffered a serious head injury.
Although most Philadelphia auto and truck accidents do not involve exotic forms of transportation, like double-decker buses, many do involve driver distraction. Indeed, according to an array of independent surveys, distracted drivers - those engaged with devices like GPS units and Bluetooths - can be many more times likely to cause injury collisions than their non-distracted counterparts. Some studies suggest that driving while on a cell phone - even using a hands-free headset - can potentially be more dangerous than driving under the influence in Philadelphia, believe it or not.
In Traffic, journalist and author Tom Vanderbilt points out that a lot of a conventional wisdom about what causes things like Philadelphia auto accidents - and what can prevent them - may be misguided. Specifically, Vanderbilt and others have argued that officials need to improve human-driven communication among drivers - and to wean drivers away from relying on technologies like GPS devices and cell phones. We must become more aware of the road and of the inherent dangers of captaining a multi-ton motor vehicle at high speeds.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a Philadelphia truck accident, car accident, or bus accident, you may greatly benefit from a consultation with an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney.
Connect with the credentialed and respected firm of Rosenbaum & Associates today through www.rosenbaumandassociates.com. Or call 1-800-7-LEGAL-7 to set up a free and confidential consultation.
