Bus Accidents

Buses can be found all over the roads of the country these days and come in all shapes and sizes. There are school buses, city transportation buses, coach buses, team buses and prison buses. Bus accidents occur not only on the roadways, but also in the schoolyards and bus yards of the country. These accidents can involve one bus, more than one bus, a bus, and another vehicle, a bus and a pedestrian, a bus and a building and much more.

Causes

• Bus accidents can be caused by a slew of factors:
  
• Driver fatigue
• Driver inattentiveness
• Driver error
• Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Lack of sleep
• Faulty equipment
• Break failure
• Parts falling off of the bus
• Blown out tires
• Bent rims or burnt treads
• Speeding
• Not yielding to other vehicles
• Failure to use warning and stop lights
• Failure to stop at stop signs or red lights
• Dangerous roadways
• Improper maintenance
• Inclement weather

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 19,000 people are injured on an annual basis in bus accidents, with 9,000 of those injuries resulting from school bus accidents. The NHTSA also estimates that an average of 20 people are killed annually due to school bus accidents.

Liability

Bus accidents are a sad truth of life, as are all other traffic accidents. The liability stemming from a bus accident can be placed on various parties. Those parties that can be held liable for bus accidents include the bus driver, the bus company, the school district, the city, the department of transportation, the bus manufacturer, the bus maintenance facility and even a person on the bus. Some bus accidents occur because a passenger on the bus attacks the driver or causes a distraction, forcing the driver to take his or her eyes off the road. If this is the case, the plaintiff’s attorney will need to prove that the driver did not cause the accident and had no way of preventing the accident.

Injuries and Compensation

Victims of this type of accident can suffer from trauma, emotional stress, broken bones, burns, lacerations, fractures, severed limbs, concussions, comas and much more. The victims of this accident can receive compensation for pain and suffering, loss of wages, repair costs, medical bills, hospital bills, punitive damages, funeral costs, court fees, and legal fees.

Legal Help

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, contact a bus accident attorney immediately for expert legal advice regarding your case. The attorney will perform an in depth investigation into the accident to determine who should be held accountable for the accident. The attorney will also help to alleviate some of the stress associated with the filing of a lawsuit by the plaintiff, who might still be suffering from his or her injuries.