City Bus Crashes into Santa Monica Building – Is Government Liable?

A Santa Monica building was the victim of a city bus accident involving the Big Blue Bus on Monday, January 2, 2023. Big Blue Bus and Santa Monica PD said the crash disrupted the afternoon commute. Passengers were transferred to another bus and taken to their destination. But the bus driver was taken to the hospital, according to more than one wondering witness. Let’s explore the news details with Ehline Law and our personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles.

Big Blue City Bus Crashed into Santa Monica Building, Resulting in Injuries and Property Damage

The Big Blue Bus was on its regular route Monday afternoon when it swerved and crashed into a Santa Monica building at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Michigan Avenue.

The Bus Crashed into a Firestone Tire Business, Big Blue Bus Spokesperson Robert McCall States

Witnesses reported that the bus tried to avoid a collision but swerved into a nearby Firestone tire business. The crash happened at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Michigan Avenue. The Big Blue Bus representative said the accident injured the driver, but no passengers required hospitalization.

The bus knocked down a tree and struck a parked vehicle owned by a Firestone employee. “As soon as I saw it, she hit my boss’s truck,” stated Jesus Hernandez, who works at Firestone.

“I thought it was an earthquake. It sounded like something hit very hard.” (Source, Witness, Jesus Hernandez)

Emergency services transported the driver to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, while the company arranged for a second bus to transfer the assembled riders to their destination.

The store manager, Alex Virula, said the accident sounded like a massive earthquake. Virula looked outside her store window and saw the big blue bus approaching and smashing into the front door, where it stopped.

Bus Rams into a Tree and Parked Vehicle, Firestone Employees Report

The location where the bus crashed typically has a food truck surrounded by high school students when school is in session. Fortunately, the school was off, and there was no other injury or causality besides the driver. A tree and a vehicle owned by a Firestone employee suffered damage.

According to law enforcement, the investigation is underway, and currently, there is no official statement on how the accident occurred.

Who Is Liable for the Big Blue Bus Santa Monica Building Crash?

In the “city bus crashes into Santa Monica building” incident, there is not much information on the cause of the accident to create a liability and damages article. A proper investigation is needed to determine why the bus was about to collide with another vehicle.

Was the other car breaking the traffic rules, or was the bus driver driving too fast and not having enough braking distance to stop? An investigation can help identify the liable party and explain how the bus swerved.

Could it be the bus driver trying to avoid a jaywalker and crash? Suppose the bus driver was liable for the accident. In that case, the Firestone tire business owner and the employee who suffered vehicle damage can pursue property damages against the government.

There are more stories about public transportation accidents in the news than before, raising fear among residents. The government is on notice, and it must adequately investigate such swerving bus accidents and take corrective measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Ehline Law

If you suffered injuries in a public transportation accident involving a bus swerving into a nearby car, pedestrian, or building, contact us at (833) LETS-SUE for a free consultation. You are eligible for compensation for your pain, suffering, lost wages, and more.