Negligent Bus Driver Kills Pedestrian in Venice

On Monday June 1, 2009 a local Venice resident, presumed to be 30-year old Donald Barrett, was crossing the street at Pacific Avenue when a bus driver unknowingly hit him. As horrified bystanders witnessed the pedestrian being dragged about 700 feet by the empty bus, the driver had no idea he had hit anything, let alone a pedestrian. Tragically the man was pronounced dead at the scene by firefighters who responded to calls from locals nearby at about 4:30 p.m. in the afternoon. The bus driver's careless and negligent driving had shaken him so badly that instead of being arrested he was taken to a nearby hospital where he has been listed in stable condition. Locals were outraged by the recent heartbreaking accident as drivers pose a constant threat to pedestrians in that part of Venice, near Main Street and Abbot Kinney. Loved ones, witnesses, and locals posted comments to the article printed in the Los Angeles Times expressing their condolences and concerns about negligent drivers who speed down Pacific Avenue regularly and pedestrians who carelessly jaywalk. However, Donald Barrett was not jaywalking, he was simply crossing the street when a reckless bus driver took his life without notice and created a spectacle of a terrible accident for those who were innocent bystanders. We send out condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Donald Barrett who is believed to have lived in Venice for the past 15 years.

Unfortunate outcomes like this are all too common with the increase of unsafe, careless, and negligent city bus drivers. They must learn to be more cautious of others, not only their passengers, themselves, but the innocent bystander pedestrians who are often killed by buses that "just don't see them". I find it hard to believe that if you are watching the road you are driving on, one could hit, run over, and drag a pedestrian without knowing. Often enough the punishments for crimes like these are not fitting and families rarely find justice for the loss they have experienced.

Lederer & Nojima, LLP, have handled carious cases involving bus accidents. Heavier vehicles, such as buses, require more distance to come to a complete stop and are more difficult to make turns. Our firm has represented many individuals and families who have been victim to fatal pedestrian - bus accidents regardless of the circumstances involving the crash. If you or a loved one has been injured aboard a bus, or as the result of a bus hitting you or a loved one, please contact our office for a consultation. We have many years of experience handing such cases, as well as various other personal injury cases such as motor vehicle accident, motorcycles accidents, dog bites, slip and falls, etc.