How many times have you brought a package to a FedEx drop-off point knowing the recipient needed the box in two or three days? People throughout Kansas City rely on speedy deliveries, but we often don't think about what happens once those boxes leave our possession.

FedEx truck drivers deliver packages throughout the country, and they must follow tight schedules to ensure packages are delivered on time. However, after a recent FedEx truck accident, one can't help but wonder whether it was the driver's negligence or the company's tight timeline that led to the accident.

According to police reports, a FedEx driver ran a red light and crashed into a city transit bus that was carrying dozens of people.

Police confirmed that 23 passengers were treated for injuries, and 18 people were taken to the hospital, including the bus driver. A 16-year-old wheelchair-bound passenger was also sent to the hospital. Although emergency rescue crews did not know what injuries she suffered, they wanted to take extra caution.

When emergency crews first arrived on the scene, they thought there were between five and 10 people who were injured. However, once they began assessing patients on the bus, they realized there were more than 20 people who needed treatment. Several people were taken out of the bus on stretchers.

At this point, emergency responders do not think anyone suffered life-threatening injuries. However, whiplash and other soft-tissue injuries can take days or weeks to become apparent. Although those injuries may not be life-threatening, they can require life-long therapy and lifestyles compromises. When those injuries become apparent, the passengers may be well-advised to hold the driver liable.

Source: Huffington Post, "Metrobus-FedEx Truck Accident Injures Passengers In Central Miami," Jan. 24, 2012