Bus travel is a necessary method of getting around for a lot of people. From getting children to and from school, to offering travelers an alternative to flying, school buses, greyhound buses, commercial buses and public transportation can all offer positive solutions to a multitude of passengers. But despite the access buses offer, they can also pose serious danger to other drivers in passenger vehicles and the passengers within the bus itself, if they are not operated by trained, attentive employees and if the equipment is not properly maintained.
Bus injuries and fatalities can be endured within a variety of situations, including; while riding as a passenger, as a pedestrian or while occupying a passenger vehicle sharing the roadway.
Despite the situation in which someone is injured by a bus, the medical costs, burdensome injuries and loss of work can create strain upon individuals and family members alike. Buses must possess the equipment necessary to carry out safe transportation of passengers. Additionally, those trusted with the great responsibility of transported passengers from one point to another must be properly trained by bus employers.
Like truck drivers, bus drivers must be competent employees, having endured proper background checks and received adequate training to provide a safe atmosphere and travels for passengers. Some of the driver-centered problems that can lead to unsafe conditions include:
The sheer size and weight of buses can pose a particular risk for those surrounding the vehicle as well as those within it. Lengthier stops and turns that often lack finesse can make buses particularly dangerous if they are not operated properly by well-trained employees and maintained in a safe manner.
The extra time it takes for a bus to stop, means equipment, like brakes, must be well-maintained. Lacking maintenance and care can often be a lower priority for bus companies and owners, who sometimes opt for regular operation in contrast with scheduled work that could prevent the large vehicles from spending as much time transporting passengers and creating company revenue.
While dealing with a bus company and uncovering its role in a preventable accident can be difficult for injured passengers or family members who lost someone in a fatal bus accident, bus insurance companies can be equally complicated, making advocacy important to those seeking to distinguish their rights and protect their loved ones.
In addition to the negligence of a bus driver or a bus company, bus accidents in Texas can also be tied to the negligence of other drivers sharing the roadways. School buses and commercial travel and tour buses are not often outfitted with lap belts or seatbelts, making them a dangerous environment, should a bus become involved in a serious auto accident. Occupants of a bus can be ejected or thrown about a bus as a result of an accident and because of the lack of safety restraints.
The kind of vehicle involved in a bus-related accident can often be a major factor in the types of injuries endured and whether fatalities occurred. Large trucks, such as 18 wheelers and tractor trailer trucks, are the most common type of vehicle involved in serious bus accidents. In fact, according to a report to Congress, School Bus Safety: Crashworthiness Research, 70 percent of vehicle involved in bus accidents are of similar size as a school bus or larger, highlighting the serious impact and damage that results when such large vehicles are engrossed.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed in a bus accident caused by a negligent driver or inadequate maintenance of bus equipment, call our personal injury attorneys and contact our bus accident lawyers online or visit one of the 10 office locations for our Texas law for a free consultation today.
Our experienced personal injury lawyers, professional medical consultants, private investigators and caring staff will help you piece together the various questions you may have regarding your accident or the fatal accident of a loved one, while seeking just compensation for your injuries and loss. We care. We can help.