Discussions

I'm absolutely taken aback that the Brandon Sun felt this story to be newsworthy. For those who have not read the story, the driver braked to avoid a collision and a passenger flew from her seat. Driver stopped the bus, checked on her, she said she was ok, and then got off at the next stop. Now BT is on the hook because they didn't force her to seek medical attention? She didn't contact transit even though the driver gave her numbers to call should she decide she wasn't ok, but was quick to call MPI and the Brandon Sun. Sounds like she's looking to make some money off a bogus insurance claim.  
 
Shame on the Brandon Sun for printing this kind of non-story. I guess it's positive to believe we live in such a perfect city that nothing else is newsworthy.

What's bogus about the claim? The woman was injured while riding on a transit bus. Who knows the whole story? Maybe the driver was at fault? I have heard of another lady that was injured while riding the bus and had to pay out of her own pocket for chiropractic visits because the 'driver braked too hard' and swung her around.  
 
Maybe some defensive driving lessons are in order?  
 
As for the lady to say she was okay after the fall, it's what most people say after a fall, sometimes just because they are embarrassed for the incident to happen in the first place. No one likes to fall, especially in front of a crowd!

this too and my first question is why didn't she contact Brandon Transit with her complaint? Instead (as she indicated) she called MPI and the Brandon Sun? That makes no sense to me at all and I think a lot of readers may feel the same way.  
 
If someone is injured, refuses medical treatment, they are provided contact numbers and information and proceeds to walk off the bus on their own two feet showing no sign of medical duress.....then you as the driver have done your due diligence.

like she didn't want the driver to get into 'trouble'. Sounds like she thought MPIC would settle and that would be the end of it, without involving the city, well now they are involved.  
 
There is no doubt that the lady was seriously hurt is there?  
 
Like I said, not the first time I've heard of the transit's drivers lack of driving skills.

How would the bus driver realize she was hurt that bad if she said she was ok, walked off the bus and never called back after? Calls everyone but the proper person to deal with her complaint??

get up and think they are alright but injuries sometimes don't show up until the next day.

A Weathered Heart said "Like Johnbisonbear said, sometimes injuries don't show up till the next day. I imagine she may have felt pretty embarassed, though.     But my question is... if she had called the numbers given to her: would anything actually have been done?     Too many times I have seen complaints let go with nothing done, and some of the drivers can be.. well.. let's just go with what Johnbisonbear said.. they lack driving skills. "

for seeing my point!  
 
As I said before, this lady got injured while riding a transit bus, she did talk to a manager and got nowhere. She had to pay out of pocket for her medical appointments. I told her that she should have taken her issue further, I certainly would have.

I was a bit disgusted with this article and the complaint behind it. What was the driver supposed to do? Passenger gets up and says she is fine and walks off the bus at her stop. The driver could not force her to remain on the bus nor could he force her into an ambulance. He gave her contavt numbers-when her friends realized she needed meducal attention she should have made sure Brandon Transit was notified.  
 
Csn you imagine how the article would have read if the driver had forcibly kept her on the bus until an ambance arrived, then the EMTs loaded her up and took her to hospital? even if she still said she is fine?

We will never know what would have been done if anything but the bottom line is you can't complain nothing was done because you didn't call. If she would have and then got nowhere then she could go to MPI and the Brandon Sun. People can't fix an issue if they don't know there is one.

Here''s the thing though, having taken first aid a couple of different times, everyone has the right to refuse. The only time you have implied consent is when an individual is unconscious. You cannot force someone to get medical attention.  
 
"Barletta admits the bus driver offered assistance, but argues he should have overruled her insistence she was OK."  
 
You specifically cannot do that. The driver would be in heaps more trouble had he done exactly that.  
 
If the driver attempted to check on her like he claims and had initially asked if she needed assistance and she refused, he did all he could do, and given the story in the paper it sounds as if he did.  
 
Edited by Degenerate108, 2017-09-19 12:02:05

why call Brandon Sun why not call only MPI and if the driver left her number to call in case needed why not also call the BT. I am guessing BT got a call about the it later by somebody else. Do Brandon Sun know (or care about) the whole story, just to print stories to sell papers.  
Few years back I pretty sure a shopping mall security guard said a senior lady got injured an ambulance came and she refused to go in an ambulance they can't force a person go in ambulance so how was the driver supposed to force the rider go to a clinic....drive the bus a clinic and a drag the rider to a clinic the bus driver would end up in Brandon Sun.  
No one here know the whole story anyway

Shebear said "What is wrong with people now adays, so judgemental and critical... maybe she was really embarrassed and just wanted to get off the bus. Not everyone is a 'gonna sue' type of person. You dont always notice a injury immediately espc if you just had a shock of brakes being slammed on quickly. People dont always think logically when in a accident. Until you go through that dont be so harsh on her. I'd sooner think its good she or anyone wasnt in a collision and not hurt more. What happens after she gets off the bus who she contacts etc is between her and BT. Whether she is out for $ or not or whatever is going on regardless, how would you feel if it was you and reading some of the comments on here? I hope she wasnt elderly. "

is 79. Did you read the article?

Johnbisonbear said "like she didn't want the driver to get into 'trouble'. Sounds like she thought MPIC would settle and that would be the end of it, without involving the city, well now they are involved.     There is no doubt that the lady was seriously hurt is there?     Like I said, not the first time I've heard of the transit's drivers lack of driving skills. "

I'm sure that's the case....she didn't want to get the driver into trouble. Makes perfect sense why she went to the BS.  
 
The fact that she contacted the press without even utilizing the contact that was made available to her paints her intentions fairly clearly.

Oryx said "this too and my first question is why didn't she contact Brandon Transit with her complaint? Instead (as she indicated) she called MPI and the Brandon Sun? That makes no sense to me at all and I think a lot of readers may feel the same way.     If someone is injured, refuses medical treatment, they are provided contact numbers and information and proceeds to walk off the bus on their own two feet showing no sign of medical duress.....then you as the driver have done your due diligence. "

That's my thought too. It's a shame this will come back to Brandon Transit and likely the driver as well. As someone posted afterwards, imagine if the driver tried to force her to stay on the bus and accept medical treatment. THEN the Brandon Sun might actually have a story worth printing.

Hind sight is 20/20. At the time she refused care for whatever reason. She had not even contacted the number the bus driver gave her. They don't magically know she ended up in the hospital. Then she contacted the Brandon Sun to complain? About what? Not being forced to seek medical treatment? Sure like that would be something she would be ok with at the time. I get that she was injured but you have to contact the number you were given, that's why the bus driver gave it to her.

I feel bad for the woman that she was so seriously hurt and have seen buses driven quick enough that it might knock someone over. That being said; I don't think the driver is at fault at all. Most people would take someone's word for it if they say they are okay and refuse help. If he had no reason to believe she was lying or that she was confused/concussed then giving the number and offering help was a good move. Even people with medical training may have missed any indication of injury. Like others have said; he can't force her to get help. He also may not have realized the severity of her fall because he was busy driving the bus. We don't know if there is a protocol in place for drivers such as collecting personal info with incidents like this. The driver may have also been a little shocked and didn't think to ask at the time. This story is another example of how people these days think the right thing to do is go "right to the tops" meaning the media. In my opinion there is a chain of people you should contact in order if you have an issue with a service. It happens time and time again. So this bus driver was likely a bit surprised to see the article in the paper because she hadn't contacted the number he provided to complain and he didn't realize there was an issue. It's unfortunate that the media can't always get the other side of the story due to confidentiality. I absolutely believe this woman's description of the events and injuries but as far as protocol and responsibility...I'm not sure.

Degenerate108 said "Here''s the thing though, having taken first aid a couple of different times, everyone has the right to refuse. The only time you have implied consent is when an individual is unconscious. You cannot force someone to get medical attention.     "Barletta admits the bus driver offered assistance, but argues he should have overruled her insistence she was OK."     You specifically cannot do that. The driver would be in heaps more trouble had he done exactly that.     If the driver attempted to check on her like he claims and had initially asked if she needed assistance and she refused, he did all he could do, and given the story in the paper it sounds as if he did.     Edited by Degenerate108, 2017-09-19 12:02:05"

the lady was concerned with the possibility of a 500 dollar ambulance fee?

will not say if proper protocol was followed in this case.. guess it will all come out eventually.

The driver braked hard after being cut off (so the article stated). What should have they done???? Maybe just should have crashed and a whole lot of people would have gotten hurt!! Really!!! Love how drivers defensive driving was questioned in earlier comments

she went directly to the Brandon Sun and never contacted Brandon Transit, what is Brandon Transit suppose to do if they were never contacted? Doesn't sound like she suffered any visible injuries like bleeding and other signs. So how would the driver know it was something more serious? As soon as she went to the hospital, she should of contacted Brandon Transit/City of Brandon. Then Risk Management would look after the incident.  
 
Would be interesting to hear from the other passengers that were on the bus at the time, and did they express any further concern?  
 
Other than public shaming of Brandon Transit, what is the purpose of contacting the Brandon Sun before contacting BT?

Trevor B said "she went directly to the Brandon Sun and never contacted Brandon Transit, what is Brandon Transit suppose to do if they were never contacted? Doesn't sound like she suffered any visible injuries like bleeding and other signs. So how would the driver know it was something more serious? As soon as she went to the hospital, she should of contacted Brandon Transit/City of Brandon. Then Risk Management would look after the incident.     Would be interesting to hear from the other passengers that were on the bus at the time, and did they express any further concern?     Other than public shaming of Brandon Transit, what is the purpose of contacting the Brandon Sun before contacting BT? "

as you are a current city employee... what would you have to do if you hit another person or vehicle while performing your duties? Is there protocol for you and other city employees to follow? I would hope so for liability sake.  
 
Oryx, as a former city employee you too should know protocol.  
 
Perhaps if the driver had reported this incident to his supervisor then the city could/would have contacted the victim to nip it in the bud and then we all wouldn't be privy to what should be city business.  
 
As for the defensive driving comment I made please read my posts as I talk of a lady that got thrown down on a bus when the driver slammed on the brakes. When people have to stand to ride a bus the driver needs to be extra careful to ensure their safety.  
 
I asked a former city employee, yes my Dad, what he would do if he hit a vehicle or person while performing his job in a city vehicle and the victim waved it off, his answer? 'I'd still have to report it'.

My girlfriend was riding the bus last winter, and at the downtown terminal went to step off the bus and rolled her ankle on the ice where the bus stopped. She was in alot of pain and it was swollen, she missed work due to not being able to put pressure on it. She phoned(left messages), and emailed (3 times) ... and never got any kind of answer from the city (only wanted at least a sorry). So ill say this lady is doing what she must to make the city see that there is a problem and maybe they can correct even how a incident is reported, maybe they can even answer the person and deal with it. This lady is forcing them to do so, as i dont believe the city will without being forced.

Johnbisonbear said "    Trevor B said "she went directly to the Brandon Sun and never contacted Brandon Transit, what is Brandon Transit suppose to do if they were never contacted? Doesn't sound like she suffered any visible injuries like bleeding and other signs. So how would the driver know it was something more serious? As soon as she went to the hospital, she should of contacted Brandon Transit/City of Brandon. Then Risk Management would look after the incident.     Would be interesting to hear from the other passengers that were on the bus at the time, and did they express any further concern?     Other than public shaming of Brandon Transit, what is the purpose of contacting the Brandon Sun before contacting BT? " as you are a current city employee... what would you have to do if you hit another person or vehicle while performing your duties? Is there protocol for you and other city employees to follow? I would hope so for liability sake.     Oryx, as a former city employee you too should know protocol.     Perhaps if the driver had reported this incident to his supervisor then the city could/would have contacted the victim to nip it in the bud and then we all wouldn't be privy to what should be city business.     As for the defensive driving comment I made please read my posts as I talk of a lady that got thrown down on a bus when the driver slammed on the brakes. When people have to stand to ride a bus the driver needs to be extra careful to ensure their safety.     I asked a former city employee, yes my Dad, what he would do if he hit a vehicle or person while performing his job in a city vehicle and the victim waved it off, his answer? 'I'd still have to report it'. "

How do we know the driver didn't report it to a supervisor and the supervisor just shrugged it off. Stuff like that happens everyday.  
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2017-09-19 18:24:59

I'm so confused about this article! She said she was ok.  
 
When I lived out west I was on a city bus that hit a car. I was jolted from my seat & like the lady in the story felt ok enough to carry on with my day. Hours later I experienced what the ER and eventually other Drs called 'soft tissue damage' (whip lash). Using the info provided by the bus driver at the time of the incident I contacted the city & had my medical costs covered & their insurance paid me an amount of money. By following the process that started with making a call I was able to get things taken care of in a reasonable enough amount of time. So when I read "She hasn’t called the Brandon Transit phone number given to her, questioning what it could do, but she has been in consultation with Autopac." in a newspaper I wonder what the heck she is expecting. Magic? Make a call. Ask questions. Get answers.

Johnbisonbear said "What's bogus about the claim? The woman was injured while riding on a transit bus. Who knows the whole story? Maybe the driver was at fault? I have heard of another lady that was injured while riding the bus and had to pay out of her own pocket for chiropractic visits because the 'driver braked too hard' and swung her around.     Maybe some defensive driving lessons are in order?     As for the lady to say she was okay after the fall, it's what most people say after a fall, sometimes just because they are embarrassed for the incident to happen in the first place. No one likes to fall, especially in front of a crowd! "

Breaking hard to avoid an accident when someone cuts you off, in my opinion is smart defensive driving. But then maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the driver does need some lessons.

hobbes said "I'm so confused about this article! She said she was ok.     When I lived out west I was on a city bus that hit a car. I was jolted from my seat & like the lady in the story felt ok enough to carry on with my day. Hours later I experienced what the ER and eventually other Drs called 'soft tissue damage' (whip lash). Using the info provided by the bus driver at the time of the incident I contacted the city & had my medical costs covered & their insurance paid me an amount of money. By following the process that started with making a call I was able to get things taken care of in a reasonable enough amount of time. So when I read "She hasn’t called the Brandon Transit phone number given to her, questioning what it could do, but she has been in consultation with Autopac." in a newspaper I wonder what the heck she is expecting. Magic? Make a call. Ask questions. Get answers. "

what I don't get as well. How was the driver suppose to know the bruising that would come would be more serious? The driver took her word that she was fine, why would the driver question it to the point he would call for an ambulance? It wasn't like she was bleeding or anything.  
 
I also don't get why MPI was contacted either. There wasn't a traffic accident since the driver avoided one. Or even why they would have the video from the bus. Guessing it was MPI that contacted the City about this. They were probably wondering why this accident wasn't reported.

My exact question also - why get autopac involved?

People should not be commenting on a situation they know nothing about. The Brandon Sun is the one who actually contacted the city for a comment. Not MPI, not the lady making the accusations. The driver did everything he was suppose to do in the situation. There were plenty of witnesses on the bus, including myself who saw exactly what happened. Another driver cut the bus off!!! That does not make the transit driver a bad driver. He reacted accordingly to the situation. As well as it is public knowledge that there are several cameras on each bus that would have caught exactly what happened, how the driver responded, and hopefully the license plate of the driver who cut the bus off. The lady did not fall. She somewhat slid off the seat onto her knees . She refused medical attention and walked off the bus just fine. She was given numbers to contact in case she needed to. Contacting the Brandon Sun and MPI before speaking to management from the transit just shows the lady is looking for something more than she deserves. She decided to contact the news paper instead of transit to explain her medical issues in which she claims were due to her incident. Yes she may have spent time in the hospital, but to anyone's knowledge it hasn't been proven to be caused by the sliding off the seat. It could be totally coincidental as to being admitted a day or so after the accident occurred. Yes there are a few drivers who may need more training in safe driving, but there are also several drivers who are great at their jobs and have done many good deeds for the public who have become sick on the bus, or have been in an accident. People in this city should really stop and take a look at their own driving habits and choices they make before blowing a situation out of proportion without knowing all the facts. And yes all this information is first hand since i was on the bus at that point in time.

to hear from someone who was on the bus at the time.