Disclarity of Liability in Bus Accidents

We can often be fooled about the safety of certain vehicles because of their size. Buses are a perfect example of this: they seem safe because of their size compared to the majority of other vehicles on the road. Also, many are not equipped with seat belts because they are supposed to be safer. However, despite this sense of security, buses are involved in their share of accidents every year, although fatalities are significantly less than fatalities from passenger vehicle accidents. The National Bus Safety Council found that from 1987 to 1996, there were about 4.3 deaths of bus riders compared to 44,000 passenger vehicles in that same amount of time. Also, the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) has found in studies that in 2005, 5,212 deaths and 91,824 injuries were caused by accidents involving large trucks. Even with this information considered, we can find that buses are involved in a large number of accidents that end up being fatal. In this past week, four separate states have reported injury crashes involving school buses.
Also, public transportation buses have been the culprit in accidents leading to injury or death. A woman struck and killed by a bus in Washington D.C. became the fifth fatality in eight months in the area. Accidents involving school buses and school children have motivated the school districts to start attiring the buses with seat belts, despite the fact that this is still not a law in many states.

Finding Blame in Bus Accidents?

Bus drivers must be extremely qualified and well-trained as they are responsible for large numbers of people and keeping control of an unwieldy vehicle. A bus driver can be held responsible for initiating an accident. However, bus accident lawsuits are not always clear because state and federal laws differ in who they say is at fault for such accidents. "Common carriers" are defined as being someone whose business is transporting people or material items from one place to another for compensation; such services typically are open to the public. Common carriers, which include commercial bus companies, are governed federally and by most state governments, and the drivers of these vehicles are required to have adequate training and equipment to complete their duties. As a consequence of this, the performance of bus drivers are held to exacting standards and they can be found to be accountable in bus accidents. However, the involvement of insurance companies and contractors in accident legal proceedings make questions of who is at fault much more complex. Common carrier regulations vary widely from state to state because the state governments are involved, and therefore, legal action in bus accidents can change greatly between states. Finding an experienced lawyer who is familiar with the common carrier laws of the area in which the accident took place and insurance policies regarding bus accidents is highly advisable.

What Should Be Done in the Event of a Bus Accident?

- If no law enforcement is present at the scene, immediately file an accident report with the police, sheriff, or highway patrol.

- Be sure to record the name, address, insurance information, vehicle license number, and driver's license number of everyone who was involved in the accident. Also be sure to obtain contact information and full names of any witnesses.

- Take pictures of all vehicles involved in the accidents, any injuries sustained in the accident, and the accident scene.

- Do not discuss the accident or any injuries you suffered with anyone other than your doctor or lawyer.

- Do not agree to making a recorded statement or sign any document that you have not first reviewed with your lawyer.

- Immediately seek medical treatment and be sure to tell your doctor how your injury occurred and about any pain from which you may be suffering.

Should I Contact an Auto Accident Lawyer?

In the event of a bus accident, it can be incredibly beneficial to have the counsel of an experienced bus or auto accident attorney. If you or someone you know has been injured in a bus accident and believe someone else may be at fault, use the auto accident attorney information request form on this page to get in touch with an expert auto accident attorney or law firm in your area today!

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

For your source for everything legal on the web, visit LegalView.com. At www.legalview.com , you can gain admission to an entire legal database that includes an attorney referral service available to you at no cost. Visitors who use this service can use the resources to find information on a variety of legal issues and contact expert attorneys such as a traumatic brain injury lawyer or a mesothelioma attorney. Visitors can also find auto or bus accident lawyers at www.crash.legalview.com/

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated