Dallas, 12/21/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/
A catastrophic crash involving a bus and a commercial truck in Russia has killed 11 people, including nine children between the ages of 12 and 14. The children were among 29 members of an acrobatics team traveling home from a competition. According to a news report, the truck rammed the back of the bus. The collision also involved two other vehicles on the highway.
Some witnesses say the bus drifted out of its lane prior to the truck slamming into it. The report states that the driver of the bus survived the crash and that investigators are hopeful his account of the accident may be helpful in determining why the accident occurred. Cold, snowy weather may have also played a role in the accident. The report says that 10 ambulances responded to the scene, which involved over two dozen people with serious injuries. According to authorities in Russia, the bus carrying the team should have had a police escort per Russian law but did not have the proper escort.
The Hazards of Driving in Russia
Car and truck accidents are much more common in Russia than the United States. In 2011, for example, 28,000 people died in 200,000 traffic accidents in Russia. In 2009, the former president of Russia said that the country’s drivers are “undisciplined” and engage in “criminally careless behavior.”
Accidents on Russian roads have become so common, in fact, that many Russian motorists install dash cams in their vehicles to have proof of other motorists’ negligence in case of a crash. Sadly, widespread corruption among Russian police has also been blamed for unjust results in motor vehicle accident cases.
According to a Business Insider report, Russia ranks in the 133rd spot for corruption in the world—with a number one score signifying the least corrupt—among police and other government authorities. Russian police officers have been known to accept bribes in exchange for doctoring traffic reports, which can allow negligent or even criminally negligent drivers to avoid civil liability or prosecution. As a result, dash cams are often the only thing motorists can rely on to produce a fair result in a traffic accident claim.
Driving in the U.S. can be hazardous, but driving overseas can be downright life-threatening. Lawyer Amy Witherite explains, “If you plan to drive in a foreign country, it’s important to familiarize yourself with driving behaviors in that country, which can be heavily influenced by cultural factors. Also make sure you comply with all licensing and insurance requirements before you get behind the wheel overseas. The last thing you want to worry about on vacation is being involved in a car or truck accident.”
If you are involved in a truck or car collision in a foreign country, get in contact with your vehicle accident lawyer in the U.S. as soon as possible. You still have important legal rights, even in cases of traffic accidents on foreign soil.
Media Contact
Lucy Tiseo
Eberstein & Witherite, LLP
Phone: 800-878-2597
Email: [email protected]
www.atlanta.1800truckwreck.com
Connect with Eberstein & Witherite on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Social Media Tags:Atlanta truck accident lawyer, Fatal Russian Truck and Bus Crash, Hazards of Driving in Russia, Truck Accident Attorney Amy Witherite
Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution – SubmitMyPressRelease.com
Like Us on Facebook