Lawsuit filed by two Japanese passengers in fatal tour bus crash

The problem with this accident is a result of a rollover design of Ford E350 Passenger Van. The Ford Motor Company should be responsible for this accident and should pay for the damages. Even if the driver was negligent, in most vehicle, there will be no rollover.

in most vehicle, there will be no rollover.

And just where did you come by that info? A van is a top heavy vehicle with a high center of gravity and you better believe they roll. (Just ask Suzuki Motor Company and their infamous "Samurai.")

Regardless of your opinion on this, other questions need to be addressed: was this guy licensed to drive a multi-passenger vehicle? I don't know about Utah, etc... but I'm pretty sure in California you need a special license to operate such a vehicle. Also, as he was crossing state lines while transporting passengers, did the tour company have all the proper permits to operate said vehicle?

Sfjp, right, Ford should pay for a pothead, driving under drug influence and breaking the law in10 different ways... You make a lot of sense here... Question is: why is jtb liable here?

Their civil claims are the first—and possibly only—to be filed because the other Japanese tourists left the U.S. unfamiliar with their legal rights.

Dear idiotic Japanese tourists who walked away from big-time settlement money: Hope that "shouganai, ne" attitude works out for you all.

Sfjp, are you serious?? "even if the driver was negligent in most vehicle there will be no rollover"???? You are kidding right??

The passengers deserve every penny they get !!! " Drugs are bad !!!! " Didn't this guy ever watched south park ?

dosanko at 12:52 PM JST - 20th October. Sfjp, are you serious?? "even if the driver was negligent in most vehicle there will be no rollover"???? You are kidding right??

These are facts. The Ford E-350 Superclub Wagon probably poses a greater risk of deadly rollover accidents to its occupants than any vehicle currently being manufactured. Its high center of gravity, poor handling, and excessive weight over the rear tires make it a deadly menace to both passengers and drivers. The U.S. government reports that over 900 people have been killed or severely injured in rollover crashes involving the Ford Superclub Wagon since 1981, and safety expert has described it as one of the most dangerous passenger vehicles for rollovers ever built.

sjjp: nice research. I don`t doubt what you are saying regarding your "facts". You only have to take one look at that van to know its not the safest vehicle on the road. But its a little worse if you have a pot smoking guy who is coming down from a major intake of energy drinks going 75mpg. If these fact are true then I think even your safest Toyota would roll in circumstances like that. So say its Fords fault that their van rolled because the driver fell asleep is completely stupid. No car maker in the world makes a vehicle idiot proof enough for this type of driver.

"The problem with this accident is a result of a rollover design of Ford E350 Passenger Van. The Ford Motor Company should be responsible for this accident and should pay for the damages. Even if the driver was negligent, in most vehicle, there will be no rollover."

If it were a Toyota van, we could count on LaMont to take a hand in this, but because it is a US manufacturer, all you can hear is crickets from the NTSA. You go sfjp330. Looks like you are informed, and US manufacturers deserve some heat to keep em honest. Lord knows nobody else is watching them.

The article does a disservice to the other potential plaintiffs because it makes them think that they cannot make a claim just because they are not in the US. That is bull dinky. They should jump in on this class action suit. It is very unlikely that they will even have to go to the US. A deposition would be enough. As far as I know.

Everyone thinking the roll-over was caused because it was an F350 with a high center gravity and Ford should be sued is on CRACK or smoking the same marijuana that Mikuni was smoking a day prior!!! Lack of sleep and high speed is the reason for this tragedy. Sorry but any vehicle traveling 75 MPH can easily roll over “PERIOD”. The driver and the company Canyon Transportation Inc. need to be sued and not the Japanese Tour Co. or Ford Motor Co. Stop looking for the big payouts by throwing every Tom, Dick and Harry in there...everyone is out to sue for billions of dollars no wonder our society is the way it is today. Might as well sue the Dept. of Transportation because he was on the highway and the little guy who helped paved the highway...yah let’s sue him too!!! Stupidity at its best. Stick to basics and try not to think somuch. You peope are also the reason every type of insureance is sky high.

Smitty at 01:02 PM JST - 21st October. Sorry but any vehicle traveling 75 MPH can easily roll over “PERIOD”.

Any vehicle? Well, I will accept your challenge. I will drive a Toyota Sienna with a lower center of gravity and you drive the Ford E350 15 passenger van. We will travel at 75 mph and make a sudden turn. See who wins. It won't be Ford E350.

There have been over 1,500 deadly accidents in 15-passenger vans. These vans have an 80% rollover rate in fatal crashes. NHTSA has issued three warnings against Ford 15-passenger vans, first in 2001, again in 2002, and recently in 2004 but Ford has refused to make design changes. There is alot of individual lawsuits against Ford that is not settled yet.