Unfortunately, bus accidents are very common these days, and they often involve serious injuries. Because of the difficulty maneuvering such a large, heavy vehicle and sometimes because of the driver’s inexperience, bus accidents happen with some frequency. The seating arrangements and lack of seatbelts can also contribute to severe injuries being suffered by bus passengers. Every bus accident case is unique, and the potential causes of harm almost endless. An experienced bus accident attorney can help you find your way through the facts and the law to reach a fair result.
Responsibilities of driver
Even when an emergency arises, the bus operator’s failure to safely deal with that emergency will give rise to liability through no fault of the driver. For example, if a bus traveling at freeway speeds encounters an object in the roadway, causing a tire to blow, the bus driver’s failure to maneuver the vehicle to a safe stop is negligence. In that situation, the driver should brake and pull the vehicle safely out of the travel lanes. If the driver instead continues to depress the accelerator, to reach the next off-ramp, which causes the bus to strike a retaining wall or some other stationary object, the injuries to the unrestrained passengers will be the bus’s responsibility company.
Bus drivers have a tremendous amount of responsibility. Millions of people rely on buses to get them from one place to another safely. When a bus driver fails to meet their responsibilities, they might inflict injuries on innocent individuals. The passengers on the bus and those operating other vehicles on the road are at risk of being injured in an accident should occur. One-third of accidents occur by drivers going over the speed limit. Bus accidents are no exception. Due to the size of a bus, they are oftentimes more difficult to control, greatly increasing the risk of a collision if the bus is traveling at excessive speeds. Accidents can occur due to the amount of break time a bus needs to come to a stop safely.
Duty of the passengers
The duties and responsibilities owed to passengers aboard a bus equally apply to those attempting to board the bus. By way of example, a nearly 50-year-old woman living in the greater Los Angeles area used the Metro Line bus system for her daily travel to and from work. After work, she walked to the bus stop located just a short distance from her employment place. As she attempted to board the bus, the bus driver suddenly closed the door, knocking the victim to the ground and pulling her into harm’s way. The would-be bus passenger ended up being crushed by the rear wheels.
Buses also have difficulty making sharp turns. Therefore, if they attempt to do so at high speeds, they are risking overturning the bus. In winter months, buses driving in inclement weather must be especially responsible for their driving. Most buses, especially public transportation buses, operate in any weather condition. People rely on these buses to get to work so that many cities will offer this service during potentially dangerous conditions. Going at unreasonable speeds in snowy and icy conditions can be deadly.
Compensation
Compensation may be available for those that have been hurt in an excessive speed bus accident. The bus driver is typically blamed for this accident. In the case that a bus company negligently hired the driver, they may also be facing a lawsuit. Our bus accident attorneys at Zehl & Associates can help you throughout the process.
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