Every day, buses in the US cover around 45,000 kilometers in total. Despite being less common than car accidents, bus accidents do occur. 66,000 bus accidents occur annually, as reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Although it might seem that a bus accident injury lawsuit should be similar to a car accident injury claim, bus crash injury claims are typically more complicated. Large corporations or governmental bodies are involved in bus accidents. Contacting a Fort Wayne auto accident lawyer is crucial in such a case.
Bus drivers are also subject to a distinct legal norm from other drivers.
Common bus accident types and causes:
Huge private and public automobiles that carry passengers for a fee are referred to as “buses.” To name a few in Indiana:
- Buses for public transportation
- personal bus services,
- The school bus
- Hotel and airport shuttle buses
- bus tours
- Buses for hire privately
- Many of the same factors contribute to car accidents and bus accidents.
For instance:
- Driving while distracted
- Speeding
- drunken driving on the road
- risky obstacles or poor road conditions
- mechanical breakdown
Bus accidents are more likely to occur due to several additional causes than car accidents. These consist of the following:
- driver drowsiness
- inadequate instruction
- faulty maintenance
- Distractions brought on by travelers.
- Driver perplexity regarding bus procedures
Indiana bus accident liability.
The type of the accident will determine who is responsible for it and how guilt is established. The majority of bus mishaps fall within one of the given groups:
- Other drivers’ negligence causes bus accidents
- bus drivers are to blame for bus accidents
- passenger-related bus accidents
- Defects that cause bus accidents
Other drivers’ negligence causes bus accidents.
The majority of bus collisions are the fault of other motorists. The bus may have been hit by a driver who ran a red light or was pursuing too closely and slammed into the back of the vehicle as it stopped to pick up a passenger.
When bus drivers are to blame for bus accidents.
The components of negligence must still be proven before a passenger can hold a bus driver accountable. The increased responsibility does, however, make this chore somewhat simpler.
Passenger-related bus accidents.
Bus drivers are responsible for taking great precautions to protect the safety of their passengers because they are common carriers. According to Indiana courts, this includes taking reasonable precautions to shield individuals from assaults by other passengers, even as the bus driver was aware of or ought to have been aware of the impending attack.
Defects that cause bus accidents.
If a flaw—such as a flaw in a tire—leads to a bus accident, the flaw’s maker may be held accountable.