The family of Aditi Avhad, the 25-year-old University of Missouri graduate student killed in the Megabus crash in early August, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court.
On Aug. 2, a Megabus heading south on Interstate 55 from Chicago crashed into a concrete pillar near Litchfield, south of Springfield. The double-decker bus was headed from Chicago to Kansas City, with stops planned in St. Louis and Columbia, Mo.
Aditi Avhad’s parents were aboard the bus that crashed and killed their daughter. The Avhads were visiting from their home in India. They came to see Aditi, who had recently entered a master’s program at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
The Avhad’s are suing for wrongful death of Aditi, among other allegations. The suit names Megabus USA, LLC., Coach Leasing Inc., Coach USA Inc., and the driver, Preston Taylor, as defendants. Several other lawsuits already have been filed in the crash.
Amanda Byers, spokeswoman for Megabus, said the incident is still under investigation by authorities. Megabus will “continue to lend full cooperation” in the investigation, she said.
Because of their size and traveling speeds, federal and state guidelines require bus companies to provide a higher level of safety for passengers than other types of vehicles. If essential equipment is not provided or employees properly regulated and trained, bus companies can be held liable for passengers’ injuries after a crash.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a bus accident, contact the attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211.