⌛ Ceres Liner & Safety...Responsible?

After several reported bad accidents on Ceres Liner buses here's one that's just happened and someone is going after them:
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American mulls suit vs Negros bus firm over road mishap



INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:01:00 01/26/2011



MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 2) An American who spent about P200,000 for the hospital bills of his Filipina wife is considering taking a Negros bus firm to court for giving a measly P10,000 for her medical needs following a road mishap in Cebu last week.

Ricky Leiderman, the husband of road crash victim Elizabeth, said that Ceres Liner reneged on its duty to pay the hospital bills that amounted to about P200,000.

Elizabeth, a 44-year-old teacher from Himamaylan City, was traveling with Leiderman on board the Ceres bus last Friday when it rammed into a truck on Cebu island last Friday.

Elizabeth suffered contusions on her head and lower left leg and foot, Leiderman told INQUIRER.net, adding that “her lower right leg was shattered with bones almost coming out of the skin.”

“I tried to not let her see her leg but when she did she passed out for a few seconds,” he recalled. Leiderman said he got “bruises and sore all over.”

Elizabeth was rushed to the South General Hospital in the Naga town of Cebu.

In the evening, three representatives from the bus company arrived at the hospital and promised to foot the bills, Leiderman said.

“We had been told that Ceres would authorize payment for all the bills,” Leiderman said in his letter to INQUIRER.net.

“They said Ceres would pay all our expenses, hospital, doctors and travel home and follow up care,” he said.

“They wrote down two names and phone numbers. When we tried to call the next day, and the hospital tried to call also, the numbers were no good, out of service,” he added.

In all, Ceres only gave them P10,000, Leiderman said.

“I am not a wealthy man, I myself am disabled. I pretty much maxed out my Visa card, paying the hospital P5,000, P30,000 and P25,000 along with the P10,000 from Ceres,” said the 58-year-old South Carolina native.

Leiderman faulted the bus driver for the accident, saying the man was running the packed vehicle even as he was sleep deprived.

He said he noticed the bus driver was driving unusually slow when they left Cebu City for Dumaguete and that the bus kept veering into the oncoming lane before the accident took place.

“About 12 noon, Liz and I were talking and I thought I noticed that we were drifting into the oncoming lane. I looked up and noticed we were not passing another vehicle and saw a large truck directly in front of us which was not attempting to get out of our way,” he recalled.

“I could see the driver's face in his rearview mirror and saw his eyes closed and mouth open, he was sleeping. I yelled as loud as I could but he did not respond,” Leiderman said.

“I realized I did not have enough time to get to the steering wheel and turn us away from the truck so I warned my wife and tried to hold her back. In about four to five seconds after I first saw us heading towards the truck we hit it head on, partly off to one side,” he said.

Now, Leiderman is worried about his wife’s medical expenses.

“We still owe the doctors P138,400 for which I signed a promissory note and told them I would send payments once I am home. The surgeon has already texted us asking for payment immediately,” he said.

At the same time, he said Elizabeth “could need more surgery in the future or have other medical problems, plus we don't know when she can return to work.”

Leiderman however clarified that it was not just about money.

“It is about time someone stands up to a company that attempts to intimidate their victims to taking a small settlement. They need to be held accountable,” he said.

 

It truly is amazing that very little is done to these bus companies. I am also very surprised that more drivers aren't being targeted for revenge purposes. The bottom line is something has to be done about this. Last time I got on one of these buses I looked the driver right in the eyes and told him in no uncertain terms to drive safe. My wife followed with her own Filipino version and guess what. Nothing. He still drove like a lunatic. I am sure that if more actions are taken against these companies either like this gentlemen is doing or through outright revenge more things would change for the better in the long run. I am surprised the doctors in this case aren't also going after the bus companies for the money as their pockets are deeper than this poor guy.

 

Sorry to hear of the accident and hope the recovery goes well. In the future, get more information from the bus number, driver ID, pictures from a camera or borrow someones on the bus and get contact numbers. Take a picture of the driver as well and document as much info as you can. It is very sad the payment always comes from the foreigner.

 

Its really sad that the government or anyone else does not seem to be able to make Ceres Lines accountable. My first bad experience with them was over ten years ago, me and my wife were on the Dumaguete-Cebu run and about half way to Cebu the only time we slowed down was because there was another Ceres bus stopped ahead on the side of the road. As we passed we saw a child laying lifeless in the road in front of the bus. Obviously waiting for the PNP to arrive to take statements. How they remain in business I cannot guess.

 

What is really sad about this, is Ceres is one of the best run and safest bus lines in the Philippines. You should try a ride on the "rabbit" from Cebu to Tabuelan, or some victory liners, or any one of thousands of smaller bus lines.

Larry

 

I can. Someone in Ceres knows someone in the Philippine Government. End of story.

It is the same in S. Korea as I dated the largest S. Korean bus company's owners daughter her in So Cal years ago.

 

If we are traveling we want as soon as possible move from point A to point B.
Ceres is one of the safest means of transportation on land for the passengers, and so now and than something goes wrong.
Just visit Provincial Hospital and see how many victims of accidents are arriving daily.
Ceres has around 300 accidents a year with fatal result, look around you and you will believe that a lot of people are suicidal, or is it just ignorance?
What i think is that people need re-education on trafic safety.
All of them!
Or is learning the National Anthem in school more important?

 

We often are travelling in the provinces, and our choice of method is the Ceres bus. Safer by far than the alternatives. If you doubt that, ride a few Vhires!

Larry

 

I would echo Firefly's statements. I am sure there are some bus drivers that should not be behind the wheel. I have also witnessed thousands of locals stepping into the road or driving through an intersection without looking before they start.

It seems from watching them that they step into the road first then look to see what is coming. The same for drivers.

I have only been here for a short while but more than once I have had to give way when a family with small child pulls in front of us on a motorcycle. It's frightening but I have to accept these people the way they are and try to adjust my driving so I will not be the one that ends someones life.

To the OP I hope your wife has a full recovery and I will hold you both in my prayers.

 

I wonder if there will be a happy ending to this sad story, I think not. Being cynical ( not usually), I expect the p200,000 bill was rounded of nicely for the husband. Any court proceedings will involve some tidy lawyers payments. Ceres bus company possibly has a better record than the myriad of other bus company's. Hey maybe they will argue that they did pay the full Hospital fees ?? I do remember paying for exciting rides on some amusement park scary bus journeys. Life is a risky business. More risky the poorer, more corrupt and less orderly a country may be.
I hope Elizabeth and Mr Leiderman will get back home safely and have a speedy recovery, but do not Bankrupt themselves when fighting for justice.
Take care all.