- August 22, 2018
Although bus accidents don’t occur as often as car crashes, they can be extremely damaging when they do. Buses do not come equipped with the same safety measures as other passenger vehicles, which makes them particularly dangerous when a crash occurs. Some people use buses to get to and from work on a daily basis, while others only board a bus occasionally. Or, perhaps your children take the bus to school, or ride busses on class field trips. However often you use the bus, you need to know how bus accidents are caused and what to do if you were harmed in a bus crash.Common Causes of Bus Accidents
Any number of problems can lead to a bus accident. The driver might make a serious error in judgement, causing him or her to lose control of the vehicle and crash. On the other hand, a bus accident could be caused by someone else on the road, like a drunk or reckless driver. Other common causes of bus accidents include dangerous road conditions, vehicle malfunctions, improper vehicle maintenance, or overcrowding.
Bus Accident Injuries
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 300 people die in bus crashes each year, and an additional 20,000 are treated for injuries. Despite the fact that car crashes occur more frequently, bus accidents can be far more catastrophic in nature. Buses are much larger and heavier than most other vehicles on the road, and their design makes them more susceptible to rolling or tipping when they collide with other vehicles and obstacles. Also, buses are not equipped with airbags and other modern safety features, and few contain seat belts.
As a result, those involved in bus crashes are usually more likely to experience severe injuries, such as concussions, broken bones, lacerations, contusions, spinal injuries, paralysis, and internal damage.
Potential Liability
If you or someone you love was injured in a bus accident, there are several different parties who could be liable. If the driver made an error, he or she might be liable for the resulting damage, or the owners of the bus company could be responsible. With privately owned charter buses, the company would take responsibility, whereas public transport will fall on the shoulders of the city or state that manages it. Or, if the bus accident was caused by the driver of another vehicle, he or she may be liable.
Were You Injured?
When you file a claim after a bus accident injury, you may be entitled to file both a Michigan no-fault insurance benefit claim and a claim for a personal injury lawsuit. Bus accidents can be extremely damaging, and they may result in serious injuries, lasting mental trauma, and expensive medical bills. Instead of struggling to push through the repercussions alone, we encourage you to contact our personal injury attorneys for legal guidance and help after a bus accident.
Contact Goodman Acker P.C. today to get started on your Detroit personal injury case.