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The scene moments after the crash on Dublin's O'Connell Street where a Luas tram collided with a commuter bus
September 27, 2009
VOL 26 NO 39
Bus and Luas braced for legal claims after crash
Gardaí deny any involvement in O'Connell Street accident
BOTH Dublin Bus and the operator of the Luas are facing a raft of legal actions from victims of last week's crash until investigators can decide which party was responsible.
Legal experts have said insurance investigators for both sides would have been visiting hospitals to take statements and personal details from victims.
While amounts will vary depending on injury, those suffering cuts and bruises could be awarded anything up to €5,000 while those with broken bones could receive up to €10,000.
Last Wednesday's accident occurred when a Luas struck a passing bus side on, leading to the injury of at least 21 people, three of whom had to be freed from the wreckage.
Emergency workers at the scene described how it took an hour and a half to rescue one conscious woman who had been sitting on the bottom deck of the bus and ended up trapped underneath the tram which had driven over her.
According to Beverly Turner, an expert in personal injury law at Dublin-based Taylor & Buchalter Solicitors, both the Luas operator and Dublin Bus can expect at least 21 registered claims.
"They will have their investigators out identifying people in hospital getting their names and addresses; they will be apologising and there will be a minimum of 21 claims coming through," she said.
"They will do this to get a statement in terms of what happened and where they were sitting. All of these people will be witnesses."
All personal-injury claims will be processed through the Personal Injury Assessment Board (PIAB) and victims have two years to register them.
It is understood the bus involved in the accident had a green light allowing it to move forward over the Luas line, a position believed to have been confirmed by another bus behind it.
No signal error is believed to have occurred and the focus of the investigation now appears to be on the driver of the tram.
Gardaí have officially denied the presence of a squad car or cars in the area just before the accident had any role to play although sources at the scene have suggested that this may have caused some form of distraction.
While many people walked from the crash scene relatively unhurt, three women were seriously injured and the driver of the tram had to be cut from the wreckage.
September 20, 2009
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