Robert De Alban and his family rode a bus owned by Joeben Bus Company. Upon reaching their desired destination, they alighted from the bus but Robert returned to get their baggage. However, his youngest daughter followed him without his knowledge. When he stepped into the bus again, the bus accelerated that resulting to Robert’s daughter death. The bus ran over her. Is the bus company liable?
Yes. The relation of carrier and passenger does not cease at the moment the passenger alights from the carrier’s vehicle at a place selected by the carrier at the point of destination, but continues until the passenger has had a reasonable time or reasonable opportunity to leave the current premises (La Mallorca vs. CA, GR L-20761, 27 July 1966).
