City driving is becoming more challenging as the number of cars on American roadways keeps rising. As a result, most people now consider taking a bus as the most efficient mode of intercity travel.
While buses are among the safest transportation modes, bus crashes are not unlikely. According to data from FMCSA, more than 250 people lost their lives while approximately 25,000 others were injured in bus crashes in 2019 alone.
But what’s the major cause of bus accidents?
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
1. Bus Company Negligence
The bus company is responsible for ensuring that the bus’s maintenance is up to date. Any accident resulting from poor bus maintenance will see the bus company liable for resulting damages.
The bus company will also carry liability for accidents resulting from the negligence of their drivers under the respondeat superior doctrine. This doctrine holds an employer accountable for damages resulting from the action of their employees. Situations that put the driver at the risk of causing an accident include inadequate training, distracted driving, and poor decision-making.
2. Adverse Weather
Adverse weather makes driving relatively dangerous for all drivers. The risk is even higher for buses because of their design. While bus drivers go through extensive training to ensure that they can safely operate the bus in any weather, the chance of getting into an accident is relatively higher.
The law requires drivers to drive carefully based on weather conditions, meaning the bus company may be held liable for accidents occurring in adverse weather.
3. Commuter or Other Road Users Error
There are situations where the commuter could be to blame for a bus accident. For example, if a commuter was standing while the bus was moving and fell, hurting themselves, the bus driver of the company cannot be liable for resulting damages.
The same applies if someone outside the bus, like a car driver, was at fault. Under such circumstances, injuries suffered in the accident will see the other party liable for damages.
What to Do in an Accident
No matter how cautious you could be on the road, negligent actions of other people, such as the bus driver or company, can cause an accident. If you suffer harm from such an accident, you may be eligible to recover compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
However, the dynamics of a bus accident lawsuit are relatively different from other types of accidents. That means a general car accident lawyer may not be the best person to handle your case.
Instead, you need to hire a bus accident lawyer with a record of securing fair compensation for their clients. Fair compensation for a bus accident claim should be enough to cover all medical bills, lost wages, and other non-economic damages resulting from the accident.
Avoiding Bus Accidents
Your role in preventing a bus accident will depend on whether you are the bus driver, commuter, or driving another vehicle.
Tips for avoiding bus accidents for bus drivers and bus companies
Tips for other drivers