Four injured in Detroit bus crash Wednesday afternoon

A crash involving a Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) bus and another vehicle sent four people to the hospital Wednesday.

According to Detroit police, the crash happened around 5:14 p.m. near Woodward Avenue and East Elizabeth Street in downtown Detroit about a block from Comerica Park.

The DDOT bus and the other vehicle were both traveling northbound on Woodward Avenue when the other vehicle attempted to turn right onto Elizabeth Street in front of the bus and the two collided.

According to the Detroit Fire Department, four people on the bus were taken to a hospital for evaluation with non-critical injuries. People inside the other vehicle were not hurt, according to police.

Police initially said a pedestrian was hit but later clarified that no pedestrians were hurt in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation. Authorities have not released additional information.

Legal issues after a bus crash

Crashes involving a city bus can raise several legal issues, especially when passengers are hurt. For PIP benefits or third-party claims, the rules are the same for most motor-vehicle accidents in Michigan.

Michigan is a no-fault state, which means people injured in a motor-vehicle crash may qualify for Personal Injury Protection benefits without first proving who caused the crash. These benefits may help cover allowable medical expenses, wage loss, replacement services or attendant care.

For bus passengers, the insurance issue can depend on the facts, available policies and Michigan’s no-fault priority rules. A person injured on a bus may need to determine whether benefits should come from their own auto insurance, a household policy, the bus’s coverage or another source.

For more background, read Michigan Legal Center’s guide to Michigan car accident medical bills and PIP priority and our car accident claims page.

Claims involving a government-owned bus

Because DDOT is a city transportation department, a crash involving a DDOT bus may also involve Michigan governmental immunity rules.

Michigan law generally gives governmental agencies broad immunity when they are performing governmental functions, but there are statutory exceptions. One important exception is the motor-vehicle exception, which can allow claims for bodily injury or property damage caused by the negligent operation of a government-owned motor vehicle.

That does not mean the city is automatically liable after a DDOT bus crash. Investigators and attorneys may need to review who operated the bus, whether the bus was being driven negligently, how the other vehicle moved before impact, whether traffic laws were violated, what injuries were documented and what insurance applies.

Evidence may include police reports, bus camera footage, nearby surveillance video, traffic signal timing, witness statements, vehicle damage, medical records and dispatch records.

Get help from Michigan Legal Center

Michigan Legal Center is the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates. Our attorneys help injured people and families across Michigan with personal injury, car crashes, no-fault claims, insurance disputes, serious injury claims and wrongful death cases.

If you or a loved one was injured in a Michigan car crash, call Michigan Legal Center at (248) 886-8650 or contact Michigan Legal Center for a consultation.

There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.

Michigan Legal Center can help you navigate the issues involved in claims such as this with Michigan car accident medical bills and PIP priority and Michigan Legal Center’s personal injury claims page.