Airborne tire on New Jersey highway crashes through bus window

On Monday, an ordinary ride to work turned traumatic for 50 passengers who were riding on a commuter bus when a tire flew through the windshield and struck several people.

The bus was in New Jersey on its way to Manhattan when a tire from another vehicle fell off and smashed through the windshield of the commuter bus.

According to reports, one passenger who was sitting behind the bus driver suffered a severe head injury and is in critical condition. At least three other people, including the bus driver, suffered minor injuries.

Luckily, the driver was able to bring the bus to a stop near an exit ramp without causing an accident during the height of Monday morning rush-hour traffic.

Police said the tire came from the front driver’s side of a 2009 Lexus. The female driver of the Lexus has not been criminally charged, police said.

Even if the driver is not criminally charged in the mishap, it is possible that she or other parties could be held liable in a personal injury lawsuit filed on behalf of those who were injured. In order for civil liability to exist, negligence must have contributed to the accident.

For example, if the woman had recently purchased new tires on her Lexus and the tire shop negligently failed to secure the front driver’s side tire, the tire shop could potentially face liability. The owner of the Lexus could potentially be named as a defendant if she knew that her front driver’s side tire was loose but negligently continued to drive on it anyway. Finally, if there is reason to believe that the tire was defective, its manufacturer could potentially be sued in a products liability claim.

As you can see, a thorough investigation would be needed in order to determine whether negligence contributed to the highway mishap.