Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Sacramento
Bus accidents can result from a range of factors, many of which are preventable. Understanding these causes is crucial when determining liability and ensuring you receive the proper bus accident compensation. Here are some common causes of bus crashes:
1. Driver Negligence
Bus drivers have a duty to ensure the safety of their passengers. Unfortunately, driver negligence is a leading cause of accidents. Fatigue, distraction, or driving under the influence can impair a driver’s ability to react quickly or operate the vehicle safely. When these factors lead to accidents, the bus driver or the company employing them may be held liable for passenger injury claims and other damages.
2. Poor Bus Maintenance
Inadequate bus maintenance is another significant factor. When buses are not regularly inspected or repaired, issues like brake failures, tire blowouts, or malfunctioning safety features can occur, often resulting in severe accidents. Bus company negligence in maintaining safe vehicles can be grounds for a bus accident lawsuit.
3. Poor Road Conditions
Hazardous road conditions, such as potholes, poorly marked lanes, and inclement weather, can make it difficult for buses to maintain control. Poor road conditions contribute to many bus accidents, especially in areas with heavy rain or icy roads, increasing the likelihood of multi-vehicle bus accidents or even a rear-end bus collision.
4. Third-Party Drivers
Other drivers on the road can also be responsible for causing bus crashes. Reckless or negligent driving, such as running a red light or making unsafe lane changes, can result in pedestrian bus accidents, commercial bus crashes, or collisions with other vehicles, leaving passengers injured.
How These Causes Affect Liability
The cause of a bus accident significantly impacts who is held liable. Proving negligence can be complex, especially when government liability in bus accidents or private bus companies are involved. Identifying the cause of the crash is critical to establishing fault and determining compensation.
Types of Buses
Individuals across the state of California elect to use public transportation each day as an inexpensive means to transport them from one location to another. Of course, there are also several other type of buses, however all of these buses are intended as a means of mass transportation.
Some different types of buses include:
- Airport Buses
- Armored Buses
- Articulated Buses
- Campaign Buses
- Casino Tour Buses
- Coach Buses
- Double Decker Buses
- Electric Buses
- Guided Buses
- Hybrid Electric Buses
- Metro Transit Buses
- Military Buses
- Party Buses
- Police Buses
- Private Charter Buses
- School Buses
- Single-Decker Rigid Bus
- Sleeper Buses
- Tour Buses
- Trolley Buses
As there are a many different forms of buses with similar intentions of transporting people from one location to another, it is likely that at some point these buses will become involved in a collision.
Types of Bus Collisions
Due to the nature of these buses needing to make frequent stops, along with their large size, bus collisions are not that uncommon. These accidents may be caused by the bus driver, however often times the drivers of passenger vehicles fail to recognize the lack of maneuverability of which these buses possess.
- Some types of bus collisions include:
- Bicycle collisions
- Blind spot accidents
- Brake failure
- Child-crossing accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rollover Accidents
- Side impact collisions
- Speed related collisions
- Sudden lane changes
- Texting and driving accidents
- Vehicles crossing into the bus lane
Resulting from these types of accidents, there may be several injuries to the passengers and those driving the passenger vehicles.
Types of Injuries Caused By Bus Accidents
There may be several different types of injuries caused by bus accidents. Injuries to the passengers are common due to the fact that most buses offer little protection other than the seatbelt; therefore if occupants are not wearing a seatbelt they may become injured. More so, injuries to those in the passenger vehicles are also common as the force generated from these types of collisions is generally great.
Some types of injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Dental injuries
- Dislocated joints
- Head injuries
- Internal injuries
- Lacerations
- Loss of limb
Statistics show that California, Florida, and New York have the largest number of bus accidents each year. Therefore, our attorneys are here to protect you and fight for your justice during this time of need.
Bus Crash Statistics
In 2009, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted a study. This study found that the majority of bus accidents occurred in metropolitan areas, and nearly 1,000 people are injured annually in inner-city and cross-country accidents.
Some more interesting statistics on bus crashes include:
- 13,395 bus accidents occurred in 2009
- 15,399 people were injured in bus accidents in 2009
- 17,207 people were injured in bus accidents in 2008
- 19,000 people injured in bus accidents throughout 2002
- 254 people were killed in bus accidents in 2009
- 311 people were killed in bus accidents in 2008
- California, New York, & Florida have the highest number of bus accidents in 2002
- Municipal buses accounted for 37 percent of bus fatalities in 2002
- School buses accounted for 39 percent of bus fatalities in 2002
Over the years, the number of bus accidents, injuries, and deaths has remained consistent. Thus, everyone in our community can do their part to reduce the amount of bus accidents each year by practicing defensive driving habits along with abiding by all traffic laws.
