Yesterday, July 8, 2015, a pedestrian died after being hit by a Metro Transit bus in downtown Minneapolis. This tragic accident happened near the intersection of 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue South.
There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the accident to provide eye-witness accounts. Investigators will need to look at tire marks, accident location and other factors to determine what happened.
- At what speed was the bus traveling?
- Was the driver distracted?
- Were there any tire marks suggesting the driver tried to stop before he hit the pedestrian?
The driver was tested for alcohol and drugs, as is protocol for Metro Transit, according to the StarTribune.
Wrongful Death
A family has a wrongful death claim against a bus driver and Metro Transit when there is evidence that the bus driver caused the accident. The family may have a claim even if the driver did not violate any laws.
Wrongful death is a civil claim, not criminal. It is meant to provide the family with a way to get financial compensation for a fatal accident caused by the negligence of another. The family is represented by a trustee (often a family member), who is responsible for making decisions like whether or not the family should settle.
When money is recovered in a settlement or jury trial, a judge decides how the money is to be divided among family members, including the spouse, children (including adult child), parents, siblings, grandparents and others.