A California woman, her husband and recently her daughter are all drivers for the Los Angeles Metro bus systems. The woman, who has driven a bus for nearly 13 years, was recently killed in a traffic accident on June 12. Her untimely death may entitle her family not only to workers’ compensation benefits, but also to financial compensation from the driver that hit her bus.
A Metro spokesperson said that it is not often that a driver is killed during their shift. This particular driver was well liked by her passengers and colleagues and could always make them smile. She received several commendations over the years. A memorial service is being planned by the Metro in conjunction with the driver’s division and the employees’ union.
On the day in question, the driver had just started her shift and hadn’t even taken on passengers yet when the accident happened. At approximately 5:30 a.m. a tow truck driver blew through a red light and careened into the bus. The impact sent the tow truck flying into the front of a convenience store injuring the clerk inside. The front of the store was decimated by the crash. The tow truck driver suffered serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital; his current condition is not known.
What charges, if any, will be filed against the tow truck driver remain to be seen. Regardless, the family may benefit from some advice and assistance regarding obtaining survivor’s benefits through workers’ compensation. Under California law, the family may also file a wrongful death claim against the driver of the tow truck. Doing so won’t bring her back, but it may help the family with the financial losses caused by the loss of her income.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “Bus driver killed in downtown crash from a family of bus operators,” Samantha Schaefer and Joseph Serna, June 12, 2013