Jason Stephens | September 26, 2020 | Bus Accidents

Bus accidents can result in traumatic injuries and deaths. Buses can rollover during a collision, thereby increasing the chance of passengers sustaining life-threatening and catastrophic injuries. Common injuries in bus accidents include:

The damages caused by a bus accident include the physical injuries passengers sustain because of the crash. Passengers may experience debilitating physical, emotional, and mental pain and suffering because of the accident. Victims may also sustain financial losses, including costs of medical care, personal care expenses, and loss of income.

Determining how the bus accident occurred and who is liable for the accident is crucial. A victim can only recover compensation for injuries and damages from the party or parties responsible for the cause of the bus accident.

Why Do Bus Accidents Happen?

There were 3,300 bus crashes reported in Texas during 2019. As with other traffic accidents, crashes involving buses occur for a variety of reasons. Human error is often a factor in many bus accidents in Texas.

Common causes of bus accidents include:

  • Bus driver error, including distracted driving, speeding, and reckless driving
  • Inadequate maintenance of buses and equipment
  • Inexperienced and inadequately trained bus drivers
  • Defective bus equipment
  • Poor weather conditions 
  • Hazardous road conditions
  • Poor hiring and supervision practices by bus companies 
  • Other motorists 

Even though a bus accident might involve poor weather conditions or hazardous road conditions, it does not necessarily mean the bus driver and the bus company are not at fault. If the bus driver failed to slow down or take other measures to decrease the risk of an accident during poor driving conditions, the driver’s actions could have contributed to the cause of the accident. 

Depending on the factors involved in the bus crash, one or more parties could be liable for damages. Parties that might have or share liability for damages caused by a bus accident include:

  • Bus drivers
  • The companies that manage, own, or operate buses
  • Bus manufacturers and manufacturers of bus parts and systems
  • Maintenance and repair companies
  • Government entities (defective road designs)
  • Other motorists 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is responsible for the regulation and oversight of commercial motor vehicles, including buses. Bus companies are held to strict standards. If the bus company violated federal regulations and laws, the company could be fined, in addition to being held liable in a personal injury claim for injuries caused by the bus accident.

Filing a Bus Accident Claim

Bus accident cases are complicated personal injury claims. The owners and operators of commercial buses have huge legal teams that investigate accidents. In many cases, these large corporations fight injury claims to reduce their liability for accidents.

Additionally, the laws and regulations for commercial motor vehicles can be confusing. However, these regulations can be an important factor in many bus accident cases.

A bus accident lawyer has the resources, skills, and experience to investigate a bus accident to determine how the accident occurred. The lawyer identifies each party who contributed to the cause of the bus crash. By doing so, the attorney maximizes the chance that you receive the largest amount possible for your personal injury claim.

Insurance providers for the bus companies also investigate claims. They may deny claims or undervalue claims to avoid liability for a bus accident. Having a personal injury lawyer on your side to fight large insurance providers and corporations is essential if you want to hold the parties responsible for your injuries accountable for their negligence and wrongdoing. 

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.

Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000