Bus accidents are becoming a cause for concern as we hear more and more about them in the news although in the grand scheme of things bus accidents with fatalities are comparatively unusual in the U.S. Most bus crashes occur in metropolitan areas and at relatively low speeds. Approximately 22,000 victims sustain minor to grave injuries after being involved in a bus accident with about 50 fatalities per year although school bus collisions are responsible for only 15 fatalities per year. While any death is tragic—particularly that of a child— considering the huge amount of miles covered by school buses each year you can feel relatively safe putting your children on one to go to school. Overall, nearly 400 million people ride a variety of buses over 31 billion miles per year, making them fairly safe transportation. Should you or a loved one have been unlucky enough to be injured on a commercial bus, it is important you acquire experienced legal counsel early on.

Bus Collision Factors

There are a wide variety of factors involved in bus crashes, but it is estimated that bus driver exhaustion accounts for at least a third of all collisions while a specific medical condition of the driver accounts for another 15-18%. Over half of all bus accidents can be directly attributed to the driver, with smaller percentages related to the condition of the bus or inclement weather conditions. In most accidents there are a variety of factors at play; perhaps the driver was negligent or distracted in combination with a bus which has been poorly maintained. While large buses are not as prone to rollover, the typical 15-passenger van has such a high center of gravity that rollovers are common occurrences. Additionally, most buses lack seat belts, so in the event of an accident the passengers are not restrained.

Tired Bus Drivers

Hours of service for commercial drivers are overwhelmingly disregarded, particularly by those companies which are not union. Although commercial trucks are subject to random stop and checks by police officers or Department of Transportation officials, buses are rarely stopped most likely because of passenger annoyance at the time lost. Due to a lack of regulation, bus drivers may be driving while drowsy could have their driving ability influenced by prescription medications. Those bus drivers who commonly drive city buses may become very aggressive in their driving habits and several cities have had city bus drivers actually caught on camera texting while driving a busload of people.

Other Causes of Bus Accidents

Additionally other vehicles may stop in bus lanes, causing accidents, or pedestrians can enter the bus lane improperly.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration studied bus driver accidents and determined that most accidents are a result of bus drivers who fail to properly recognize and react to a situation in order to avoid a collision. Of course some bus accidents are not caused by driver failure as when a bus fails to operate properly or has a brake failure or tire blowout.

In some cases bus companies fail to hold up their end of the bargain—to keep their passengers safe—refusing to accept responsibility and compensate the victims for the damages and injuries they sustain. Having a personal injury attorney in your corner, protecting your rights can be crucial at a time like this. You don’t want to have to go up against a large bus company or their insurance carrier on their own, particularly at a time when you are trying to recover from your injuries. If you have been injured in a bus accident, don’t wait—contact a qualified attorney immediately.