When we use public transportation or share the road with public transportation vehicles, we trust bus drivers and those responsible for bus maintenance to consider our safety. But bus drivers sometimes fail to properly operate their vehicles, and buses may malfunction due to lack of upkeep. Any resulting accidents can cause serious injury to many people. our firm advocates for pedestrians, passengers and other motorists who are injured in bus accidents resulting from a bus driver’s or a transportation company’s negligence. We help clients obtain fair compensation for all medical costs, property damage, wage loss, and emotional pain and suffering associated with their bus accident injuries.
About bus accidents
Because they carry so many travelers at once, buses have the potential to injure a number of people in a single accident. In fact, data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) showed 24,000 individuals were injured in 11,000 crashes. All types of buses were included in this statistic, including the following:
MARTA buses
Commercial coaches (Peter Pan, Megabus, Greyhound, etc.)
Airport shuttles
School buses
Tour buses
Church buses and vans with a capacity of more than 10 people
Prison buses
How does negligence play a role in bus accidents?
Bus drivers and bus companies can be found negligent and therefore liable for accidents and subsequent injuries, depending on the circumstances. For instance, bus drivers who are drunk when they cause accidents or who run red lights and hit pedestrians or other vehicles could be held liable. However, the bus company who hired the driver would be negligent if it failed to follow federal and state regulations for hiring personnel and performing maintenance on the fleet of vehicles and this failure caused a bus accident. If you believe your bus accident resulted from any of the following types of negligence, consult an injury lawyer to learn about your options for filing a claim:
Failure to check driving records and confirm bus license certifications
Lack of vehicle maintenance
Lack of proper driver training
Other bus company oversight
Overloaded buses
Failure of the driver to follow traffic signs and laws
Driver fatigue
Driver distraction
Driver criminal behavior