A recent civil lawsuit in Pennsylvania alleges that a FedEx truck driver is liable for more than a dozen injuries and multiple deaths following a devastating Pennsylvania turnpike accident in 2020, according to news reports. According to the complaint, the truck driver might have avoided the crash if they weren’t wearing noise-canceling headphones while driving.
Details of the FedEx Truck Driver Accident
The tragic FedEx truck driver accident occurred in the early hours of January 5, 2020, at roughly 3:30 a.m. A tour bus operated by Z&D Tours Inc. was carrying 62 passengers from New York City to Cincinnati when the bus hit an embankment and rolled over near mile marker 86 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, close to Mt. Pleasant Township.
Soon after, the FedEx tractor-trailer crashed into the overturned bus, causing catastrophic injuries and multiple fatalities. According to the 91-page lawsuit currently pending in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, 14 bus passengers were injured, and five people died in the crash, including the Z&D bus driver.
The Philadelphia truck accident lawyer who brought the case claims his firm has evidence of the FedEx driver wearing noise-canceling headphones at the time of the crash from dashcam video footage. The lawsuit alleges the headphones, which are illegal for drivers under Pennsylvania law, prevented the FedEx driver from hearing a warning from FedEx’s internal alarm system indicating an obstruction ahead.
According to court filings, the negligence of the Z&D bus driver also contributed to the PA turnpike crash. The lawsuit alleges that the Z&D driver repeatedly failed to properly regulate the speed of the tour bus to adjust to road conditions, which likely contributed to the rollover accident.
Status of the Case
The lawsuit is currently pending in civil court. It has named Z&D Tours Inc. and FedEx Ground Package System Inc. as defendants. The estates of three victims who died and 14 victims injured in the crash filed the complaint.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the deadly turnpike accident. The NTSB’s investigation into why the bus lost control and overturned may be completed by early 2022.
Several civil lawsuits are also pending against both Z&D Tours Inc. and FedEx in New Jersey Superior Court and the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh. FedEx has been the subject of similar lawsuits in the past. Another truck driver wearing noise-canceling headphones caused a truck accident that led to catastrophic injury in 2017.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer for Help
If you were injured in a Philadelphia truck accident, the experienced trial attorneys at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., are here to help. Our experienced trial attorneys secured $9 million for our client after a negligent truck driver crossed the center line and hit her head-on. We will work just as hard to obtain fair compensation on your behalf, too. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options in a free initial consultation.
