The tour bus is owned by Scapadas Magicas out of National City but was operating under contract with InterBus Tours and Charters based in Tijuana. According to the Los Angeles Times, the bus was carrying 38 passengers when it left Tijuana early on the morning of February 3 destined for Big Bear Lake – a popular destination this time of year.

Later that night, about 6:30 pm, when the bus was descending down a steep incline along California 38, the driver reportedly lost control of the bus. The large vehicle clipped a Saturn Sedan before veering into oncoming traffic and crushing a pickup truck coming the other way before finally coming to rest along the edge of the highway.

The carnage could have been a lot worse. The driver of the pickup truck survived, but was trapped in his vehicle until rescue officials could cut him free. The occupants of the car also survived. Of course, the bus accident damage to the vehicles involved is as of yet untallied.

However, eight people on board the bus lost their lives. Some were thrown out of the bus as a result of the collision. Media reports describe the carnage as so severe, it was difficult to determine how many people had lost their lives. Body parts were strewn along the highway.

“It is a gruesome and horrible scene. It’s one of the most horrific scenes I’ve ever seen in 10 years with the department,” said Officer Leon Lopez, spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, about the Yacaipa bus accident in comments appearing Monday (2/4/13) in the LA Times.

As of February 4, six passengers were confirmed dead – one, identified as a boy of 13. Dozens were injured.

It is due to potentially preventable accidents like these that R. Rex Parris law firm and our bus accident lawyers who have tremendous experience with accidents occurring in the Yacaipa area along route 38, are sought by victims, or their families, in an effort to seek justice. Anyone who survives such a horrific crash could suffer life-long after-effects from injuries sustained. Beyond that, the emotional aftermath could also haunt individuals for the rest of their lives.

Was the Yacaipa bus crash a case of neglect and abuse?

Further investigation, and discovery required for the inevitable bus accident lawsuits will tell the tale. But from what we know so far, it appears as if the crash could have been prevented.

According to media reports sourced by our attorneys at R. Rex Parris Law Firm, federal inspectors have previously found numerous safety and mechanical violations associated with the very bus that crashed Sunday. According to the LA Times and the Associated Press there have been citations for faulty axles and brakes. Wheels have been found to be missing a full complement of wheel fasteners.

The owner of the buses, Scapadas Magicas, has reportedly been cited for no fewer than 59 maintenance violations in the last two years alone, according to safety records on file with the US Department of Transportation. Some buses have been cited for having bald tires, or insufficient brake linings. The section of California 38 where the horrific bus crash happened features numerous steep grades, gravity from which would intensify the weight of an already heavy people mover together with the weight of 38 passengers.

The weight of injury, and emotional trauma from the images of that horrific accident, remains as a haunting holdover for those who survived a needless tragedy. For those who lost loved ones, a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit will never succeed in bringing that loved one back.

However, our attorneys at R. Rex Parris Law Firm know that litigation often serves more than one purpose. While the families of those killed, or the survivors seek recourse for pain, suffering and personal injury stemming from the horrific bus crash, a successful lawsuit will also send a message out to other owners and operators of these tour buses – to remind them that failure to operate a safe vehicle is not acceptable in our society.

These operators have to remember they are transporting human cargo – the most precious cargo of all. Not only do they have to think about their passengers, they have to think about others on the road. Two other vehicles were involved in the collision. There could have been more. As it was, it’s a miracle the driver of the pickup truck survived. It’s also miraculous there were not more deaths, than there were.

And while the owner of the doomed tour bus was flagged by federal officials for a shoddy maintenance record, how much responsibility does the tour operator – who contracted the bus from Scapadas Magicas – bear for the accident? Did Scapadas Magicas warrant to InterBus Tours and Charters that the bus used was safe? Should tour operators conduct their own, independent inspections of contracted vehicles, in order to further protect and assure the safety of their clients?

As the investigation continues, more information will be forthcoming – and there will most assuredly be bus accident lawsuits stemming from this tragedy.

You know what? You really don’t. Because every fee ever charged by any company, lender or service provider, is going to be “justified” by the company who’s charging it. And if you were to ask the company about it, the answer will always be the same: either “yes–it’s just the cost of doing business,” or “we’ll have to look into that and get back to you.” Of course, they never do actually get back to you…

Our legal team at R. Rex Parris Law Firm is all too familiar with the myriad of fees that show up on your credit card statement, bank statement or cell phone bill. And those fees are typically explained in the documents initially mailed with your credit card, or updated from time to time in a letter mailed with your bank statement: pages upon pages of text in small print and written in such a way that you’ll never read it, let alone digest the contents.

We all dislike fees–especially those we don’t understand or comprehend. And while fees are necessary to help fund the service that your bank, credit card company or cell phone company provides, not all of them are necessarily fair, or in some instances, legal.

Unfortunately though, determining if a fee is unfair and unnecessary is subject to interpretation. Anything can be made to sound legitimate. And you can complain about them until you’re blue in the face. The fact of the matter is, many times without an actual legal challenge, service providers have fairly wide latitude to put fees in place.

Our R. Rex Parris lawyers note, however, that things are slowly changing. The US Government under Barack Obama has been working to tighten the rules, and impose restrictions under which banks and credit card companies can unilaterally raise, or impose new fees. And a class action lawsuit against JP Morgan Chase & Co. was settled this past July with a $100 million settlement for class members. The issue? The improper raising of credit card minimum payments, allegedly to generate higher fees.

There are protocols companies must now follow to introduce a new fee, or raise the rate of an existing one. The customer (you) needs to be informed of the change. Provided this is done, the service provider can introduce practically any fee it wants. Given the power of language any fee, however trivial, can be made to sound like a savior to a company’s bottom line.

And here’s the sad part: a service provider may move to introduce a new fee knowing that eventually they may be required to retract the fee and put themselves at risk of a lawsuit. However, if they are made to pay, say, $100 million in penalties and settlements but earned $500 million by introducing the fee in the first place, it suddenly becomes a good business decision.

The best thing to do in order to avoid paying unnecessary customer fees–or at least to recognize when a new or changed fee appears on a bill or monthly statement–is to read the fine print of your credit card agreement, cell phone contract or bank account agreement. Fees are typically outlined in a section of the agreement called “Notice of Fees” or similar. If you’re being charged a fee, make sure it’s outlined in the fee notice section. Then, make sure that what you’ve been charged is in accordance with how the fee has been described in your agreement: is it a monthly fee? Is it based on a minimum balance? Is it calculated as a percentage of your bill?

If you suspect a customer fee has been charged incorrectly, you should first contact your service provider as, many times, a phone call or email will cancel the charge. But remember to diligently check your statements as often times a fee can be recurring, even if it’s incorrectly charged.

For fees that go beyond a simple phone call to correct, legal assistance may be required–and, if so, the lawyers at R. Rex Parris are here to help.

Are all overdraft fees, credit card and cell phone fees justified? No. And service providers will always push for more. That is, until citizens like you push back. And our skilled lawyers at R Rex Parris are here to advise you.

For Immediate Release: October 23, 2012

Personal injury law can be complex–it truly is like learning another language. And not everyone likes to cozy up with hard-bound volumes of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for example. It’s definitely not light reading–but if you’re going to file an injury claim or a personal injury lawsuit, it helps to have someone who’s familiar with civil procedure law–and who can ‘translate’ it for you.

Someone like a Santa Clarita personal injury lawyer

The need for an attorney actually becomes apparent right after an injury has occurred–and yet many times victims will try to resolve things on their own. For example, a victim may have a Lancaster car accident injury or a Santa Clarita personal injury claim and try to resolve it on his own with his insurance company. Unfortunately, the insurer doesn’t have your best interest at heart–its goal is to make money, not send it to you. Or, you may be badly injured and unable to keep up with the paperwork, reports, and quite frankly, arguing, that you’d need to do in order to see any compensation. Your lawyer is your advocate to ensure your legal bases are covered and that you receive proper damages for your injury claim.

But beyond haggling with an insurance company, a Santa Clarita attorney will understand all aspects of the law that affect your case. .

Take something like statute of limitations–which is how long you have to file a lawsuit. Most people think ‘statute of limitations’ means you have 2 years to file a lawsuit. Period. But it’s not that simple. In fact, for a California personal injury claim, you may have 2 years to file but most wrongful death claims have only 1 year (except in asbestos lawsuits or medical malpractice lawsuits). And statute of limitations rules differ from state to state.

Understanding legalese can be difficult and it’s our job to help you navigate this world.

There’s an old saying–”Lawyers. Who needs ‘em?”–usually said in a derogatory way. But when you have a personal injury claim and you need legal help, you really do need a lawyer. Better to have one on your side.

The key is to know what to do…and what not to do. Here, 3 simple steps to follow to ensure you’re as ready as possible should you find yourself in a Santa Clarita car accident:

1. Take a look at our car accident information form–now.

We’ve put a handy form on our site that outlines what info you’ll need to track, and submit after a car accident. But our car accident attorneys suggest you check this out BEFORE you’re involved in an accident–in fact, print out a copy and keep it in your glove compartment. Knowing in advance the type of car accident information to have should you find yourself an auto accident victim will help you in the long run.

Santa Clarita driving like driving anywhere these days can be hazardous–particularly as we’re nestled in at the 5-14 split–traffic on I-5 and Highway 14 (Antelope Valley Freeway). If you think proactively about being prepared in the event of a car accident, you’ll know how to properly respond if, and when a Santa Clarita accident happens.

2. Understand how insurance companies really work.

Given that our Santa Clarita accident attorneys are usually knee-deep in dealing with insurance companies after a car accident has happened, we know how car insurance companies work. Here’s the bottom line: auto insurance companies are typical business enterprises designed to maximize profits and minimize costs. They’re not classified as charities for a reason.

So even though you have a car insurance policy, your insurance company will pay you as little as they can get away with.

That means you might find yourself without adequate finances to fully cover medical expenses, unpaid time off from your job, car rental or car towing–all resulting from a Santa Clarita car accident and none of which an auto insurance company will want to generously cover. A car accident attorney (Santa Clarita-based is best if you’ve had your accident locally) can step in to work with the insurance company so you’re not left doing so by yourself.

3. Car accident injuries may not show up immediately…so keep an eye on yourself.

It goes without saying–your first concern in any vehicle accident–car accident, motorcycle accident, truck accident, whichever–has to be your medical condition. Get medical help before anything else!

Having said that, many times a car accident injury may not present itself immediately at the time of the accident. That does notmean you should go around saying “I’m ok” to everyone–especially not your insurance company. You may have underlying medical issues yet to emerge–and, let’s face it, going on record with your insurance company as being “ok” may not be in your best interests when you come back a couple weeks later with a car accident medical claim.

Our Santa Clarita auto accident lawyers can advise you on what to say, and what not to say, to an insurance company–or anyone else for that matter. It’s important that you, and your passengers are in a position to maintain your rights under the law.

Will you have an auto accident in your lifetime? Yes–at least it appears that way statistically–and you’ll have more than one. Nonetheless, there are steps you can take before, and after, a Santa Clarita auto accident to help yourself avoid insurance claim hassles, denied insurance claims, and to ensure your legal rights in a car accident are protected.

So go check out that car accident information form now–because while we’ll be here to protect you after an auto accident, we really prefer that you don’t have an accident in the first place!

It’s sobering news. When you step back and do the math, it means that roughly, for every eighth of a mile you drive on the CA SR-14 corridor, someone was a victim of a California DUI car accident–and some of those victims wound up being drunk driving deaths. Every eighth of a mile.

That grim DUI accident statistic is changing for the better.

The “Arrive Alive on SR-14″ program aims to reduce the number of alcohol-related car accidents in Los Angeles County — specifically, on the stretch of SR-14 between Santa Clarita and Lancaster, CA. In addition to the above statistic, it’s a stretch of road that’s sadly seen its share of DUI accidents and alcohol-related deaths — with 4,057 Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley DUI arrests — from 2007 to 2009.

In support of Arrive Alive, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers from the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita areas have been ramping up efforts to curtail drunk driving by increasing DUI enforcement on the roads. The CHP is on the lookout for California drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs resulting in speeding or making improper turns or unsafe passes. The officers will strictly enforce CA traffic laws.

R. Rex Parris is a proud member of the “Arrive Alive on SR-14″ Sober Driving Coalition. While our firm is often called upon to help Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley DUI victims in a California DUI lawsuit, we hope that someday there won’t be much need for a Lancaster DUI attorney — or drunk driving accident lawyers in general — because programs like “Arrive Alive on SR-14″ will be a success.

It’s refreshing to write about some good news—as a Santa Clarita truck accident lawyer, it’s not often that we get to focus on positive news coming out of the trucking industry. Usually, it’s the negligent conduct of either irresponsible truck drivers or the truck operators that hire them that get our attention.

Recently, however, at the Riverside Convention Center, Stater Brothers Supermarkets employees honored 297 drivers for 3,572 years of accumulated safe driving. Of the current roster, 10 drivers have travelled in excess of two million accident-free miles.

In California, truck accident lawyers don’t tend to hear about such an accomplishment—not only by the drivers, but also by a company that appears to value accountability.

Sadly, this is the exception. Our Lancaster highways are overridden with unqualified drivers, unsafe trucks and operators who are not accountable. Little wonder R. Rex Parris’ truck accident lawyers in Santa Clarita are in such demand.

There are too many examples of why victims seek out truck accident attorneys. Witness a resident of Long Beach, California–a truck driver and an admitted user of methamphetamine– ploughing into another rig in Oregon and killing a father of four. The trucking operator did not conduct random drug testing of its drivers—nor did it have valid insurance on the day of the 2008 accident.

The $5.2 million truck accident settlement will not bring back a valued husband and father.

R. Rex Parris recently shared news of a $10.5 million settlement–the result of a horrendous Lancaster, CA accident involving a DHL delivery truck and an innocent victim. The DHL driver had run a red light while travelling at 50 mph, striking the passenger side of the victim’s vehicle as it waited in the intersection to make a left turn. The truck accident left the victim seriously injured.

The question is what caused the accident?

Perhaps the investigating Sheriff’s Deputy’s testimony tells that story: the DHL driver had admitted to smoking marijuana on the morning of the Lancaster accident.

Notwithstanding the commendable actions of Stater Brothers of San Bernardino, CA and its California truck drivers, our Santa Clarita truck accident attorneys will continue to make available our expertise for plaintiffs or their loved ones negatively impacted by the actions of irresponsible truckers.