Dallas Jury Awards Family of Man Hit by Greyhound Bus $20 Million
In December, a Dallas jury awarded one family $20 million in damages in a wrongful death lawsuit after they lost their loved one to an accident caused by a Greyhound bus in 2017. According to reports, the victim, Hunter Brown, was traveling from California to Washington when the bus made a rest stop. The victim’s family claims that the driver not only left the stop before the announced departure time, but as Brown ran up to the bus and banged on the door to get in, the driver allegedly ignored him and turned the bus in Brown’s direction, hitting and killing him with the front ride side tire of the bus.
What Happened?
According to the lawsuit, Greyhound’s driver was fatigued, hostile, and late when he arrived for his shift that day and he regularly ignored the Greyhound rule book throughout the trip. In addition, before passengers boarded, he got into a shouting match with a passenger, and he announced to the entire bus that he was so exhausted that he might fall asleep. The bus that evening left the stop approximately two hours late. When the driver was assigned to the route, he had already driven 9.5 hours prior.
During the trip, the driver made unplanned stops and engaged in an altercation with three passengers that were left at a stop with their baggage still aboard. When he made the fateful stop that led to Brown’s death, he reportedly got back on the bus before the announced departure time, honked the horn, and, in spite of being told that several passengers were still inside the stop, proceeded to pull out of the stop. As previously reported, he then proceeded to ignore Brown as he ran up to the side of the bus and begged to be let in, turning right towards him, knocking him down, and running him over. As a result, Brown died of blunt force trauma.
Causes of Action & Claims for Relief
Brown’s family was awarded damages based on the following causes of action:
- Negligence under the highest degree of care because Greyhound is a common carrier and failed to act as a cautious or prudent company, to avoid a foreseeable risk of injury to Brown, hired the driver, supervised, dispatched and retained that driver, and through that driver, failed to assure that passengers were accounted for at all stops, maintain a safe lookout and safe speed, and comply with federal and state law
- Negligence that was the proximate cause of Brown’s injuries and his family’s damages, and Greyhound failed to act as a reasonably prudent company and exercise reasonable care, which brought risk of injury to Brown. They exhibited negligence when they hired the driver, supervised, dispatched and retained that driver, and through that driver, failed to assure that passengers were accounted for at all stops, maintain a safe lookout and safe speed, and comply with federal and state law
- Gross negligence and malice by failing to stop, running over Brown, and recklessly employing and supervising the driver
Speak with an Experienced Texas Wrongful Death Attorney
When a company behaves recklessly like this and it causes the loss of a loved one, you have every right to pursue justice in court. Contact our Houston wrongful death attorneys at The West Law Office to find out about our legal services in fighting for justice for families here in Texas.
Resource:
nbcdfw.com/news/business/family-awarded-20m-in-wrongful-death-suit-against-greyhound/2272355/
