Generally, riding on a bus is a fairly safe method of transportation. The size of the bus typically protects passengers in the event the bus is in an accident with a smaller vehicle. However, in some cases a lapse in the judgment of a bus driver, or a failure to perform the proper maintenance on a bus can result in a crash that can injure passengers on the bus.
Bus drivers are required by law to use the highest standard of care towards passengers, because legally bus drivers are considered “common carriers”, meaning that they transport passengers for hire. However, despite that requirement, Georgia bus accidents can happen and may lead to serious injuries or even fatalities.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, at least 11,000 bus accidents occur every year in the U.S., which typically result in between 20,000 and 40,000 injuries. Most of the accidents do not involve fatalities. Among those bus accidents that do involve fatalities, the majority happen with young school children.
There are a number of factors that may contribute to an accident involving a bus. The bus may be poorly maintained. The bus driver may be under the influence of drugs and alcohol, or may simply be overworked and fatigued. The bus driver may not have been properly trained. Other drivers on the road may be to blame for the bus accident as well. There may also be third parties involved, such as manufacturers of defective vehicle parts, or negligent maintenance companies.
School bus drivers have very difficult jobs, and even the best trained drivers can make mistakes that would endanger the children in their care. Many accidents involving school buses in Atlanta do not occur while the bus is in motion – many occur while the bus is loading or unloading children. School bus drivers have a responsibility when allowing children to board and exit the bus.
If you have been injured or a loved one was killed in a bus accident, you should speak with a law firm with experience in handling complex personal injury attorneys. Bus accident cases can be much more complex than standard automobile accident cases. There are often many different entities involved, which depends on who owns the bus, who maintains the bus, which insurance companies are involved, and who employs the bus driver. All of these parties typically have expert attorneys on their side, in order to pay as little in damages as possible.
Call the Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Holston & Huntley. We will provide you with a free consultation on your case, and if we choose to take your case you pay us nothing unless we obtain a recovery for you. Call us today- consultations are free and you are under no obligation to use our services. We serve Metro Atlanta Georgia as well as Birmingham Alabama including surrounding areas.