Bus Accidents
Bus accidents occur all too frequently on Florida roadways. In March, seven people were injured when a Hillsborough County school bus driver failed to properly stop when approaching an intersection. As the result of a bus accident, multiple people may be severely injured. Buses are heavy vehicles and can be involved in accidents that are far more serious than car accidents.
Liability in a Bus Accident
Determining who is liable for injuries in a bus accident is entirely dependent on the circumstances. In some cases, the driver of the bus is negligent in causing the accident. In other cases, a driver in a motor vehicle may be responsible for the injuries. There are various circumstances where the bus company may be held responsible. This can be the case if the company engaged in negligent hiring, failed to train its bus drivers properly, or failed to adequately maintain the bus in good working order.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
Determining the cause of a bus accident is important as that information can be used to determine who is liable. Some common causes of bus accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol
- Negligent hiring of bus drivers with bad driving records or without the required bus license
- Failure to properly train bus drivers
- Failure to maintain the bus in working order
- Reckless driving
- Driver inexperience
- Failure to drive in accordance with the weather conditions
- Driver fatigue
- Failure to monitor blind spots
While bus accidents are fairly rare, the consequences can be catastrophic. Bus passengers are typically not wearing seatbelts and can easily be thrown around the bus in a collision. In addition, the size and weight of a bus make it particularly dangerous to other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Accidents can occur on school buses, local buses such as HART buses, and long-distance buses such as Greyhound buses.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured in a bus accident, you may want an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk thousands of clients have put their trust in us. Contact us online or call us at 800-538-4878 today to set up your free consultation.