| Buses are generally thought to be a safe method | | | | drivers are held to exacting standards and they |
| of travel; after all, they are significantly larger than | | | | can be found to be accountable in bus accidents. |
| other vehicles on the road and many buses do | | | | However, the involvement of insurance companies |
| not even come equipped with seat belts. A study | | | | and contractors in accident legal proceedings |
| by the National Bus Safety Council between the | | | | make questions of who is at fault much more |
| years 1987 and 1996 found 4.3 bus rider fatalities | | | | complex. Common carrier regulations vary widely |
| per year compared to 44,000 passenger vehicle | | | | from state to state because the state |
| fatalities over the same time frame. However, | | | | governments are involved, and therefore, legal |
| buses are involved in an alarming number of | | | | action in bus accidents can change greatly |
| crashes, many of which prove fatal. In the last | | | | between states. Finding an experienced lawyer |
| week, school bus accidents causing injury have | | | | who is familiar with the common carrier laws of |
| occurred in Massachusetts, New York, Michigan | | | | the area in which the accident took place and |
| and Wisconsin. Public transportation buses also | | | | insurance policies regarding bus accidents is highly |
| frequently are involved in accidents leading to | | | | advisable. |
| injury and death; a Washington, D.C. woman | | | | What Should Be Done in the Event of a Bus |
| recently was hit and killed by a Metro bus, | | | | Accident? |
| becoming the fifth fatality in eight months in the | | | | - If no law enforcement is present at the scene, |
| D.C. area from bus accidents. Accidents involving | | | | immediately file an accident report with the police, |
| school children have prompted many school | | | | sheriff, or highway patrol. |
| districts to re-outfit school buses with seat belts, | | | | - Be sure to record the name, address, insurance |
| even though many states still do not require | | | | information, vehicle license number, and driver's |
| school buses to have seat belts. Data from the | | | | license number of everyone who was involved in |
| Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and | | | | the accident. Also be sure to obtain contact |
| the Motor Carrier Management Information | | | | information and full names of any witnesses. |
| System (MCMIS) reveals that 5,212 deaths in | | | | - Take pictures of all vehicles involved in the |
| 2005 were caused by crashes involving large | | | | accidents, any injuries sustained in the accident, |
| trucks and that 91,824 injuries were a result of | | | | and the accident scene. |
| crashes involving large trucks. | | | | - Do not discuss the accident or any injuries you |
| Finding Blame in Bus Accidents? | | | | suffered with anyone other than your doctor or |
| Bus drivers must be extremely qualified and | | | | lawyer. |
| well-trained as they are responsible for large | | | | - Do not agree to making a recorded statement |
| numbers of people and keeping control of an | | | | or sign any document that you have not first |
| unwieldy vehicle. A bus driver can be held | | | | reviewed with your lawyer. |
| responsible for initiating an accident. However, bus | | | | - Immediately seek medical treatment and be |
| accident lawsuits are not always clear because | | | | sure to tell your doctor how your injury occurred |
| state and federal laws differ in who they say is at | | | | and about any pain from which you may be |
| fault for such accidents. "Common carriers" are | | | | suffering. |
| defined as being someone whose business is | | | | Should I Contact an Auto Accident Lawyer? |
| transporting people or material items from one | | | | Having the guidance of a professional bus or auto |
| place to another for compensation; such services | | | | accident lawyer can be advantageous in the case |
| typically are open to the public. Common carriers, | | | | of a bus accident. If you or someone you know |
| which include commercial bus companies, are | | | | has been injured in a bus accident and believe |
| governed federally and by most state | | | | someone else may be at fault, use the auto |
| governments, and the drivers of these vehicles | | | | accident attorney information request form on |
| are required to have adequate training and | | | | this page to get in touch with an expert auto |
| equipment to complete their duties. As a | | | | accident attorney or law firm in your area today! |
| consequence of this, the performance of bus | | | | |