Bus Incident - WWYD

[bookgirl]

I wouldn't sue for ongoing scars but I would expect Disney to pick up the cost of medical attention and I would expect them to at least offer up payment for dinner, just for the sake of customer good will.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

i know what you mean......we got robbed and they did nothing either

Us too. And the robbery was committed by a Disney employee who was not reprimanded. Having read some hotel reviews on non-Dis sites I know we aren't the only ones.

That said... in this particular case I wouldn't even consider suing. Accidents happen. I might write a letter but as another poster said I am a letter writer. I write when things are great, and when things are bad (more often when they are good, so that the great people are encouraged to keep up the good work). If I wrote a letter I would however make it clear I did not expect anything in return.

Disney Claims is VERY well set up to protect themselves. I doubt a lawsuit would bring anything about anyways.... anything other than bills from the lawyer that is.

 

[maxiesmom]

I haven't read the entire thread, but the feel I got from the first page was "she didn't get good attention afterwards".

Really? OK...maybe not immediate, but as soon as they got back to the resort, an ambulance was offered (and declined), a medical van/visit was offered (and declined), and they had a message from a manager following up, followed by a call from a manager at the bus company. OK, so they didn't get a dinner, or a basket, or whatever...but to me, it does seem like there was concern and that the things that were offered were rejected.

I'm sorry this happened to your friend - but I wouldn't do anything...especially after I was making posts on a message board about how my father, the lawyer, was saying "cha-ching". A good defense lawyer will find all these posts and use them as evidence against them, IMO.

This is what I was thinking too! Help was offered, and rejected. The injured person felt so well that they went out to dinner right away. There was no life-long injury, no trauma. Why exactly should they sue? Just because they can? Because Disney has deep pockets? Disgusting.

 

[maxiesmom]

it was an accident, but Disney could have done a lot of things to lessen the likelihood of someone being injured in that type of accident. The lack of seatbelts coupled with the configuration of the seats is what caused the passenger to be injured.

I have ridden the Disney busses twice. The last time was the last time I will ever ride them. We went from the Poly to DTD and I was appalled at the speed that bus travelled with passengers standing. It was unsafe. I cannot for the life of me understand how people can ride those things with their children not strapped in, no carseats, etc. I don't understand why people jeopardize their children's safety for the sake of "free" transportation.

Disney busses are the same as public transportation anywhere. No seatbelts. Our school busses do no have seat belts either. Most of the safety from being on a bus is from the size and bulk of the bus. Driving around Disney property on a bus is much different than driving down the highway in a little compact car.

 

[DebbieB]

While I don't think it is necessary to sue, I would not just forget the whole incident. It was the fault of one of their employees, it's not like a deer ran out in front of the bus. I would expect them to pay out of pocket medical expenses. Since the injuries were not serious, they may offer a small settlement.

 

[ferris198]

This is why insurance rates go up, people putting in nonsense claims.

 

[Allison]

Bottom line (at least for me) is that Disney was negligent in that they knowingly endanger their passengers every single day by transporting them in vehicles without adequate safety restraints.

So, you are saying every school district and every city with public transportation is negligent? That's just not the case. Buses are not required to have seatbelts.

I understand it's your opinion. Why clog up the legal system based on personal feelings instead of legal facts. There isn't negligence because there are no seatbelts.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Personally for a small scar I'd just do nothing. Accidents happen and nothing serious occured.

I agree..

now my friends mother was recently hit by a car crossing the street (she had the right of way and was in the crosswalk). Sh eis pretty banged up and will be out of work for awhile. That is something I would sue for.

I do thing it would be nice if Disney offered him park tickets and or a few nights room comp.

 

[DebbieB]

This is why insurance rates go up, people putting in nonsense claims.

I work for an insurance company in underwriting and have seen my share of nonsense claims. I would not call this one a nonsense claim. He was injured on a Disney bus due to the negligence of the person driving the housekeeping cart, they should not have stopped suddenly with a bus behind. He's owed out of pocket medical expenses and probably a small settlement. It's not necessary for this to go to the legal system. Most claims are settled without going to court.

 

[FayeW]

So, you are saying every school district and every city with public transportation is negligent? That's just not the case. Buses are not required to have seatbelts.

I understand it's your opinion. Why clog up the legal system based on personal feelings instead of legal facts. There isn't negligence because there are no seatbelts.

You can be within the letter of the law and still be negligent! Seatbelts save lives, and can lessen the severity of injuries. That is a fact. That is why so many countries have implemented seatbelt laws. The fact that the law doesn't require vehicles providing public transportation to have seatbelts doesn't mean that the company shouldn't be proactive and install them anyway.

It isn't against the law for adults to smoke, either, but there have been lawsuits against tobacco companies because of smoking related disease. What the law allows you to do (or not do, in this case) and what you should do, are sometimes two different things.

 

[3guysandagal]

Are you suggesting seat belts on every seat and therefore NO standing?

WOW those lines at the parks at closing are going to be long now!!!

 

[Arielle22]

I would not sue. If I had out of pocket medical expenses I would ask to be reimbursed. If it was so upsetting then the husband who was injured should have spoken to the mgr while still at Disney.

When I was about 6, my family was on our annual vacation to Niagara Falls, Canada. I was playing with my siblings on the playground and ran behind a swing in motion. The next thing I knew I was on the ground bleeding from above my eye. I clearly remember running back to the motel unit and looking at my hand and shirt covered in blood. My mom cleaned up the blood and I also remember looking in the mirror thinking that small cut caused all the blood. I had to have stitches in 2 places above and below my eye. If it was closer I would have lost my eye. I still have the scars but yet managed to live a happy life and attract a spouse.

DD14 goes to girl scout camp every summer. She takes a school bus to the camp. 2 years ago the bus was late arriving at the stop. When it arrived the driver told me that he had been hit and DD14 had hit her head off the seat in front of her. Her glasses were bent a little but that was easily corrected. DD12 was also on the bus and was fine. I never thought to take it further because it wasn't the driver's fault.

 

[Dolce27]

I work for an insurance company in underwriting and have seen my share of nonsense claims. I would not call this one a nonsense claim. He was injured on a Disney bus due to the negligence of the person driving the housekeeping cart, they should not have stopped suddenly with a bus behind. He's owed out of pocket medical expenses and probably a small settlement. It's not necessary for this to go to the legal system. Most claims are settled without going to court.

I could see Disney paying for out of pocket medical cost – if the family hadn’t refused their help. The family refused Disney’s help at the time but now – after they return home – want compensation?

The only injury was a small cut that had to be super-glued. There weren’t any life threatening injuries or anything that prevented him from functioning in his everyday life. Why should there be a settlement for that? Had he been injured to where he’d have to be off work – then I could see why a family would want a settlement; to make up for loss income. If your friend was riding with you in a car and you had to suddenly stop and your friend was thrown forward and cut him/herself – a small cut that would heal and no other injuries – would you expect to have to pay your friend a settlement for that?