If you have been reading our Kent, Washington, personal injury law blog for awhile now, you may have come to the conclusion that motor vehicle accidents are not uncommon, but a common factor in many crashes is negligence.

It only takes one glance at a text message to become distracted for several seconds or one morning of speeding to try to make it to work on time for a driver to cause a serious or fatal accident. But negligent drivers are not the only ones who can cause a motor vehicle accident; passengers can also be responsible for causing a crash if one's reckless actions prevent a driver from safely operating a vehicle.

Last week, Seattle police reported that a Metro bus had crashed into a tree, injuring passengers on the bus and the driver. According to reports, the bus driver was assaulted by a passenger while he was operating the vehicle, which caused the driver to lose control of the bus.

The bus accident occurred in the University District on Jan. 19. Seattle police reported that when a 40-year-old man boarded the bus, he realized that he did not have enough money to pay his fare and he became upset that he would not make it to work on time. The passenger allegedly punched the bus driver in the face, causing the driver to lose control of the bus on the slippery road.

Firefighters responded to the accident scene and treated two passengers on the bus for minor injuries. The bus driver was taken to a local hospital for his injuries. He suffered bruising to his face and a possible broken leg.

Seattle police did arrest the passenger who was accused of assaulting the bus driver. The bus was also equipped with video surveillance which will help law enforcement with their investigation of the accident. If the injured bus driver and passengers decide to take legal action in order to receive compensation for their damages resulting from the accident, the video surveillance may also be helpful to support a personal injury claim.

Source: Seattle Post Intelligencer, "Passenger hits Metro bus driver in fare dispute, causes wreck," Scott Sunde, Jan. 20, 2012