When Communication Failure Contributes to an Injury: A Case Study of Para-Transportation for Wheelchair Users
Our firm was retained to investigate an injury sustained by an elderly woman who was confined to a wheelchair at the time of the incident. The woman was utilizing a public para-transportation service for people with disabilities when the van she was riding stopped short. As a result, she slid out of her wheelchair and suffered a compound fracture of the leg. This case went to trial with the seatbelt manufacturer and transportation entity as defendants. Looking beyond the obvious issues of seatbelt failure and driver training, this paper will examine communication as a necessary part of the safety system. Communication involves the sharing of information in a complex system where users are not domain experts. In this case, communication as part of a public para-transportation safety system is evaluated.