$60-million class action lawsuit filed in fatal Ottawa bus crash
Posted Jan 18, 2019 10:04 am.
Last Updated Jan 18, 2019 11:39 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — A $60-million lawsuit has been filed by Merchant Law Group LLP on behalf victims of the double-decker bus crash in Ottawa. In filings, the lawsuit argues that there are safety deficiencies in the design and operation of the public transportation system in Ottawa.
The group is seeking financial compensation for bus passengers on Route 269, those injured on the platform at Westboro Station and anyone else affected by the bus crash on Friday Jan. 11, 2019.
READ MORE: Ottawa police begin probe of fatal bus crash that left 3 dead
Lawyer Evatt Merchant explained that the class action
lawsuit is also seeking compensation for the families of the three people killed in the crash.
“Obviously our primary concern is the victims of last Friday’s bus tragedy,” he said. “But, there’s also the ongoing issue of the need for better safety measures to be taken. Are there things that need to change in the OC Transpo system?”
Merchant told 1310 NEWS that his law firm was approached by someone who was on the bus that crashed. The plaintiff is a civil servant from Kanata and a volunteer first responder, and Merchant said he is an ideal plaintiff.
“In terms of having a very strong understanding of what happened, because he was on the bus and also of safety issues and community issues.”
The Ottawa Police Service, along with experts from the Transportation Safety Board, are still investigating the cause of the bus collision.
They’ll be working to reconstruct the crash to determine if speed, weather, or human issues played a factor. Anyone affected by the incident at Westboro Station who wants to join the suit can find more information here.
