subject: What Are My Rights If I Am Injured In A Bus Accident? [print this page] Unfortunately, bus accidents happen fairly frequently, and they often result in severe injuries. Bus accidents are common because buses are big and heavy and hard to maneuver. Driver inexperience also plays a part in this situation. Passengers can be severely injured when buses don't have adequate seats and seat belts.
In legal terms, bus companies and public entities engaged in running bus lines are known as "common carriers". When they take up the business of public transportation, they promise to carry them in a safe, vigilant manner. A carrier is responsible for any and all negligence. They must do everything possible to be sure that passengers are protected at all times.
When a passenger who is sick or has a disability rides the bus, it is the carrier's responsibility to use reasonable care in meeting the needs of the passenger and assuring his or her safe trip. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA 1990) provides for full and equal access to public services. If these rules are violated and there is an accident, the passengers must be compensated for damages and injury.
Even if an emergency is not the driver's fault, he or she must manage it appropriately or be faced with liability problems. If a bus is traveling on the freeway at high speed and blows a tire, the driver must move the vehicle to safety or face charges of negligence. When this happens, the driver must apply the brakes and steer the vehicle to safety on the shoulder of the road. If the driver accelerates to the next ramp and causes the bus to collide with a stationary object like a wall, injuries to passengers who are unrestrained will become the responsibility of the bus company.
The driver must be responsible for the safety of passengers on the bus and passengers getting on the bus. For example, there was a middle aged woman who lived in Los Angeles. She used the Metro bus line to commute to work every day. After finishing work, she proceeded to the bus stop, which was only a short walk from her workplace. While she was getting on the bus, the driver closed the door suddenly. This caused her to be knocked down and dragged into a dangerous position. The fallen woman was crushed under the bus's rear wheels.
Each instance of bus accidents is different with infinite possibilities of potential causes. An experienced lawyer can help you discover the truth and negotiate the legal system to reach a fair settlement.
