MG Law expresses the deepest sympathy to the victims of the Ottawa OC Transpo bus crash at the Westboro transit station that took the lives of 3 people and injured 23.
The cause of the crash is unclear at this time. The Ottawa Police have said that they are preparing for a “long, detailed and complex” investigation in how the OC Transpo double-decker slammed into a bus shelter late Friday afternoon. No clear theories are offered by the Ottawa Police at this time and MG Law will be following the investigation closely.
Lawsuits which flow from catastrophic bus accidents are very complex and require lawyers with expertise and resources. Multiple parties are usually involved including provincial and municipal authorities. These types of cases may require Road Safety, Human Factors and Accident Reconstruction engineers to assist the lawyers with difficult liability issues.
The standard for professional drivers was articulated in a recent case decided by an Ottawa judge. In Gardiner v. MacDonald the court found that professional drivers should be held to a higher standard of care than the general public. The court said that the professional “looks ahead, thinks ahead, acts early and drives defensively”. It remains to be seen whether the OC Transpo driver involved in this crash met that standard.
MG Law has experience handling catastrophic bus crashes. We continue to represent 25 victims of the Union Express Bus crash that occurred on highway 401 in Prescott, Ontario on June 4, 2018.
We stand ready to assist any of the innocent victim of the crash. Hospital visits and home visits can be arranged by contacting us at (613) 730-8460.
