If you or someone you love has been injured in a bus accident and you likely have questions including:
- Can I sue for bus accidents?
- Are there any benefits to suing after such an accident?
- What kinds of lawsuits are filed as a result of bus accidents?
- What is the expected duration of the legal process?
- How do I choose a bus injury lawyer?
NY Bus Injury Law Firm
The Disability Guys law firm is staffed with experienced personal injury lawyers prepared to answer the above as well as any other legal questions you may have after being involved in an accident. Contact us now for a free consultation.
The Severe Repercussions Of Bus Accidents
When choosing where to live, it’s common for buyers of houses to consider nearby bus stops and routes, as well as other public transportation services. Even if buses are great for travel, the countless passengers who board and leave them each day are not always safe.
There are also plenty of children who depend on buses to get to and from school every day. In fact, many of us wave goodbye to our kids as they board the yellow bus and leave for school every day. Tragically, school buses experience more accidents because they are so common on the roads, making those inside more likely to sustain serious injuries.
Where Are The Seatbelts?
Most of the buses in this country do not provide seat belts for the passengers. It should be noted that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that bus seats are safe without seat belts because of the compartmentalized design and the energy-absorbing seat backs. The passengers of a bus accident who have been injured, as well as the loved ones of the people who have been hurt, will tell you that injuries may have been prevented if only seat belts had been used.
Moreover, many people point out that it could be a matter of cost that prevents seat belts from being required since installing safety restraints could cost more than $10,000 per bus.
The fact is that, until laws change, many bus companies will not be forced to install seat belts, which could endanger thousands of lives.
Hiring A Bus Injury Lawyer After An Accident Occurs
In the event that a bus crash injures or otherwise traumatizes you or a family member, you might be able to recover compensation for your injuries with a bus accident lawsuit. Litigation can be used to fight for future and past medical expenses, lost wages, physical pain, and emotional anguish.
By describing the circumstances of your accident to our bus crash attorneys, you will be able to better understand your chances of recovering compensation.
Time Limits On Bus Accident Claims
A lot of bus accident victims delay seeking legal assistance for fear that adding the stress of a lawsuit will be too much to handle whilst juggling missed days of work, being fired, and even ongoing medical treatment. Problematically, a statute of limitations applies, which means that a lawsuit must be filed within a specified time period in order to be valid.
A bus accident claim/suit must be brought within two years, which is the New York statute of limitations. Even if the victim suffers life-altering injuries, it is nearly impossible to seek compensation after two years have passed since the date of the incident.
How Do Bus Accidents Happen?
According to some estimates, a bus could weigh anywhere from 26,000 to 36,000 pounds, depending on its seating capacity. Any collision that occurs in a vehicle weighing this much at high speeds could cause catastrophic damage to both the occupants and those outside the car.
Some of the most common causes of bus accidents include:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving includes instances where the driver uses a phone or other device which takes their eyes off the road.
Tired Driving
The working conditions for bus drivers are highly stressful, and they often report feeling fatigued when they arrive home. When a driver is fatigued, their reaction time is slower, their judgment is impaired, and their concentration is reduced, which may lead to them making driving mistakes.
Intoxicated Driving
Alcohol consumption results in slowed reaction times and seriously impaired judgment and is one of the leading causes of auto accidents. This is no different with buses.
On average, drivers get behind the wheel while drunk 80 times before they are caught. Police are always on the lookout for drunk drivers, but they are not always successful in catching them.
Excessive Speed
The drivers of buses are often under pressure to speed in order to arrive at each stop in time. Speeding, however, causes a longer stop distance and thus leads to more accidents.
Concerns Regarding Weight Distribution
The luggage of passengers is a common load carried by buses. Indeed, shipping is a service offered by many bus companies. Nevertheless, when suitcases and packages are loaded onto a bus, they should be distributed evenly or the vehicle may fall over during transportation.
Manufacturing & Maintenance Issues
Getting a bus part manufactured incorrectly or not maintaining it properly can cause the bus to break down during operation and result in an accident.
Ill-Maintained Roads
Local governments need to make sure their roads are well maintained and the signs posted along them are accurate. Without this, drivers may unintentionally cause a crash without realizing it.
Regardless of the cause, bus accidents can leave victims with devastating injuries. Unsuspecting victims have a right to seek justice and compensation; filing a bus accident injury lawsuit can help them achieve this.
Contact Us Now To Get Started For Free
It is your right to be informed about your legal options if you have been injured in a bus accident. In all bus accident cases, our attorneys provide free legal advice to victims of the accident. Please call us to arrange the no-cost, no-obligation case review that will give you the legal information regarding your case so you can make the best decision for yourself and your loved ones.