General Bus Accident Information

Information on Bus Accidents, including a list and explanation of the types and causes of Bus Accidents, of both public buses and private buses, a guide to determining liability and fault in Bus Accidents, and the statute of limitations for Bus Accidents.

Understanding Bus Accidents · Types of Bus Accident · Bus Accident Causes · Determining Fault and Liability · Statute of Limitations

Understanding Bus Accidents

As defined by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, a bus is a motorized vehicle capable of carrying more than 10 passengers. This includes large vans used for public transport, church buses, municipal transit buses, airport shuttles, tour buses, trolleys, and interstate carriers. Buses are considered "common carriers" under the law, and bus drivers and bus companies are are held to the highest standard of care and safety in operating a bus. Most buses are subject to state and federal licensing requirements and other regulations. However, in the event of a bus accident, state law will determine whether the bus company and other liable parties are responsible for compensating passengers for injuries sustained in the bus collision.

Due to the ever increasing congestion on our roadways and highways and the recent spike in gas prices, an increasing number of people are using buses as their primary mode of transportation. In accordance with the growing number of bus passengers, the number of injuries resulting from bus accidents is also growing. There are many factors which can contribute to bus accidents, including negligent driver behavior, driving under the influence, weather conditions, dangerous road conditions, and mechanical problems, among many others. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, the driver, passengers, and drivers of other motor vehicles may suffer injuries ranging from minor cuts to serious and even fatal injuries. Bus accident lawyers can help accident victims receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries and other damages suffered as a result of the accident.

Types of Bus Accident

People throughout the country ride buses daily as their main means of transportation to work, school, recreational activities, travel destinations, and more. Unfortunately, when bus drivers do not operate their vehicles with the utmost degree of care, many innocent people are in danger of becoming victims of a bus accident. Bus accidents can cause serious injuries to everyone involved, including the bus passengers, pedestrians and drivers and passengers of other vehicles.

Below is a list of the common types of bus accidents:
Pedestrians hit by a bus Bus passengers injured when the bus stops suddenly Bus passengers injured boarding or exiting the bus Rear-end and intersection auto collisions with a bus Weather-related collisions DUI/reckless driving collisions City bus accidents Airport shuttle bus accidents Sightseeing and tour bus accidents Paratransport for the disabled accidents Casino bus accidents Charter bus accidents Intercity bus accidents Commuter bus accidents County bus accidents Fifteen-passenger van accidents

Fifteen- passenger vans are especially prone to devastating rollover accidents. These vehicles are often used to transport church groups, school or university students, businesses and other organizations. If one of these vans is fully loaded, the weight raises the van's center of gravity and shifts it rearward, increasing the chances that a rollover accident will occur.

Bus Accident Causes

Bus accidents can happen because of several factors. A bus crash may the bus driver’s own fault, as in situations when he or she was speeding or recklessly driving in an unsafe manner while on the road. In other cases, a disastrous bus accident may be due to damage or debris on the roads like an oil spill, pothole, broken pavement, or wet pavement. A large number of bus accidents occurbecause of the negligence of a third party driver who failed to give the proper care and attention to operating a motor vehicle.

Contributing factors to all types of bus accidents may include:

Driver Negligence/Inexperience Driver Fatigue Careless/Reckless Driving Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol Driver Cell Phone Usage Negligence on the part of other drivers Dangerous Road Conditions Road Construction Weather Conditions Failure to Warn of or take other protective measures against known dangers Inadequate Bus Safety and Security Precautions Inadequate Bus Maintenance Defectively Designed or Manufactured Bus Parts Criminal Activity on Bus (such as assult by passenger on bus driver)

Determining Fault and Liability

Our legal system ensures that the costs of bus crashes are borne by those at fault for the accident, not by the innocent bus passengers and their families. If an injury is sustained while an individual is using bus transportation, that person and/or his dependents and family members may be entitled to compensation. There are many regulations that are specific to common carriers, such as bus companies, and an experienced bus accident attorney will be able to determine how they apply to your case. Because of the many factors that can contribute to and influence a bus accident, the question of who is responsible for injuries and other damages depends upon the circumstances of each individual bus accident.

Liable parties for a bus accident may include:

Bus Company - If a bus accident happens because the bus company allowed a bus with faulty brakes or other mechanical problems to be out on the road carrying passengers, the bus company may be liable. The bus company's actions in hiring unqualified drivers, maintenance people and other personnel, or in negligently training or supervising these employees may also contribute to the event of a bus accident. In addition, if a bus company fails to enforce adequate bus safety measures, it may be found at fault for a bus accident and resulting passenger injuries. Bus Driver - Many bus accidents are caused by the bus driver's negligence in operating the bus, such as violating traffic laws, falling asleep at the wheel, or driving under the influence. Bus drivers involved in a bus crash can be held responsible for the injuries sustained by the passengers if they are at fault. Bus Maintenance Companies - If the bus company hires an independent company to maintain the buses and ensure that they are in a safe mechanical condition, that company may be sued independently if it failed to properly maintain a bus and this failure contributed to the bus accident. Bus and Bus Part Manufacturers - A bus manufacturer that sends a defective bus from the factory to the marketplace subjects bus passengers to unreasonable danger and potential harm resulting from bus accidents. As a result, the bus manufacturer can be held responsible for damages when a bus crash occurs. Likewise, the manufacturers and retailers of defective bus parts that may have caused the bus accident could be liable for the injuries to the bus passengers. Drivers of Other Vehicles - Drivers of other cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other motor vehicles may be held responsible for a bus accident if the accident was caused by their negligent, careless, or reckless driving. Tour Operators - Owners and operators of tour buses can be held liable for bus driver negligence in a tour bus accident. When a bus trip is part of a package offered by a tour service, the tour service may be held responsible for damages to passengers if a bus accident occurs in an affiliated tour bus and passengers suffer injury. State or Local Governments - If the bus involved in a bus accident is a government-owned transit bus and the cause of the accident was negligence of the driver or of a city worker performing his employment duties, the government may be a liable party in a bus accident claim. State and local governments may also be responsible for dangerous road conditions and road defects that cause a bus to crash.

Statute of Limitations

Statutes of limitations restrict the amount of time you have to file a claim after a bus accident. These statutes vary by state and by the cause of action (personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, etc.). It is important to note that government entities usually have shorter terms within which bus accident victims can file a bus accident claim. After the statute of limitations has expired, you lose your right to bring a claim in connection with the bus accident that caused your injury. In order to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation for the injuries suffered in your bus accident, you should contact a bus accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. A bus accident attorney who has experience and proven results in bus accident injury cases will be able ensure that your case is handled correctly and that the filing deadlines are not missed.

All content on Accidents.com is for informational purposes only and is NOT intended as legal or medical advice. Please seek advice from a professional on any related topics.

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