Legal Experts React After Roof Is Ripped Off Vehicle

Specialist lawyers representing victims injured in coach and bus crashes in the UK and abroad have urged that swift answers must be provided in relation to an incident in which seven people were injured when a bus collided with a bridge in south London.

Photos from the scene have shown that the roof of the route 197 double-decker bus operated by Arriva was ripped off following the crash on Saturday night (July 18th) in Norwood.

London Ambulance Service confirmed that seven people had been treated for injuries following the crash, with four being taken to Croydon University Hospital for further support.

Transport for London has confirmed that a full investigation is being held into the incident.

Following the reports, serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have called on police and the bus operator to work closely to provide answers regarding the chain of events which led to the crash.

The legal experts notably act for the families of 15 children injured in a head-on bus crash in County Durham in June last year, while they are continuing work to gain justice for staff and pupils from Alvechurch School injured in a coach crash in France in February 2012.

Expert Opinion

“It is very worrying to see reports of this incident and the fundamental priority at present must be ensuring that all of those affected get the support they require to take steps towards a full recovery. <br/> <br/>“In due course however, attention will need to turn to fully investigating this incident and answering the many questions that a crash of this raises. <br/> <br/>“All of those affected will no doubt be keen to understand how the crash occurred and it is worth noting that this is not an isolated incident, as there have been other incidents in the capital in recent months when double-decker buses have suffered roof damage after colliding with bridges. <br/> <br/>“Gathering as much information as possible will ensure that a full picture of the events surrounding the crash can be developed and this in turn will mean that – where possible – lessons can be learned.” Colin Ettinger - Consultant