Bus accident injury victims can benefit quite a bit from scheduling a free consultation with an experienced in personal injury attorney immediately following an accident. An attorney can advise you of your right to compensation and whether you have a case.
Without professional representation, injury victims may not know how to document injuries, when to hold out for a better offer of compensation, and how to access quick medical treatment. Too often, injury victims trust in themselves to secure a deal with an insurance company or another party, but they may end up being severely short changed when it comes to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering and more.
The legal team at Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers serve their clients’ interest in court, guiding them through legal processes such as hearings or settlement negotiations. Our bus accident lawyers do the in-depth research to support an injury case while evaluating what amount of compensation is equitable and fair for all of the costs of care and recovery. This includes high medical bills that may result from even minor medical services and treatment.
If you or a loved one were injured in a bus accident, contact the experienced legal team of Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers to learn more about your right to compensation. The consultation is free. We only collect a fee for our services, if a recovery is made. We have office locations throughout California, with an office near you. Contact us now by calling 1-800-718-4658, using the live chat, or completing the contact form on this page.
Don’t delay, as there are strict time limitations for filing an injury claim in California.
Bus Accident Statistics
Bus accidents are a major source of concern for federal officials, safety advocates and anyone else tracking highway safety across the U.S. As a category of heavy vehicle accidents, bus accidents represent a significant portion of the traffic accidents, injuries and tragic fatalities that happen each year around the country.
In general, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows evidence of several hundred bus crash fatalities each year, with injuries in the thousands. There are specific categories of bus accidents. For example, NHTSA data shows that there were 117 school bus-related crash deaths in the United States in 2018.
Safety data also shows how certain kinds of situations are most common in bus accident injuries. The above fact sheet also shows that about half of school bus crash injuries involve cases where buses were in a head-on collision. In terms of what buses are doing at the time of the crash, traveling straight ahead is the top category, followed by left terms, an especially dangerous type of traffic activity that requires special care on the part of the driver.
Types of Bus Accidents
Federal officials also keep tabs on the numbers of tour bus or charter bus accidents across the U.S. Although some of these numbers are harder to come by, this resource from Nolo shows NHTSA estimates that school bus accidents represent only 37% of all bus accidents, leaving considerable numbers of crashes in categories related to tours, Casino Tour Bus Accidents, or other public transit.
However, some reports are suggesting that these numbers might be skewed because of the NHTSA’s definition of what constitutes a “motor coach” vehicle. This 2011 report in USA Today shows how some bus accident statistics might be distorted, which may lead to under-reporting of certain types of crashes.
Who Is Liable For A Bus Accident?
There are broad types of third-party responsibility in bus accidents that are related to any potential negligence or inattention to public safety. Tour companies or other bus operating companies can be found liable, in situations where drivers or other staff members have not been properly licensed, screened or trained, or where specific safety protocols have not been set up or followed. The companies making the vehicles can also be held liable if the vehicles are not in safe and serviceable condition due to any defects or design problems. In addition, in some bus accident cases involve negligence by a third party, for example, where a tour bus case goes to a given location, tour participants get out, and someone becomes injured because of unsafe premises.
Since many bus companies are public entities, a claim for damages is more complex, and there are strict time limitations for making a claim. The laws are complex, and you need an experienced law firm like Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers by your side. Our bus accident lawyers have successfully handled many claims against municipal bus companies. If you have been injured in a bus accident, either as a passenger, pedestrian, or driver/passenger of another vehicle, you have a claim for your personal injuries. To learn more about your right to compensation, immediately call 1-800-718-4658 for a free consultation.
Unique Risks Of Bus Accidents
Injuries in bus accidents can also be different than the average traffic accident injury. For example, drivers of cars and trucks often experience things like whiplash and soft tissue damage on impact. But bus passengers can experience different kinds of injury.
One unique aspect of bus travel is that there are often no restraints provided in the form of seat belts and airbags, safety designs that come built into smaller vehicles. That means there’s a particular burden on the bus driver to maintain safety.
Buses are also uniquely vulnerable to rollover accidents, because of the ways in which they are built, and their centers of gravity. Rollover accidents can generate other kinds of injuries, such as traumatic brain injury or cranial or spinal impact with the top of the vehicle. As a result, bus companies are required to build buses with a certain amount of tensile strength in roof areas, so that the top part of a bus can withstand a certain impact, keeping everyone inside safer. The federal government has mandated that the roofs of buses must be able to hold 1.5 times the vehicle’s own while allowing less than 5 inches of “roof crush.”
Casino Tour Bus Accidents
If you have been injured in a casino bus accident, you may have a claim and be entitled to compensation. This compensation may include medical bills, lost wages, and other past, present, and future economic and non-economic losses. If a loved one has been killed in a casino bus accident, you may have a legitimate wrongful death claim.
Many casino buses have video cameras which may have valuable information about the crash, or the events that led up to the crash. Additionally, there are laws governing the amount of time a lawsuit can be filed. As such, it is essential to contact a qualified personal injury attorney to discuss the facts and circumstances of your case as soon as possible. Casino bus accident cases are taken on contingency. This means there is no cost to you unless we win your case.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a casino bus accident in California, contact Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation, by calling (800) 718-4658, using the live chat feature, or completing the contact form on this page. Our lawyers handle casino bus accidents throughout the state. We work solely on a contingency fee basis, so there’s no upfront cost to you for our services. Don’t wait, call us now to learn more about your legal rights and legal options.
Duty of Care of Bus Drivers
You should know that casinos and private bus companies owe their customers a duty of care. For example, drivers have a duty to follow traffic rules. This means they should not speed, drive through red lights, or turn from the wrong lane. It also means they should drive below the posted speed limit when certain conditions, such as bad weather, make following the speed limit unsafe. Drivers also have a duty to their passengers. For example, drivers should not start or stop the bus suddenly, which could result in injury. Drivers should not depart before passengers are safely seated. Finally, drivers should drop their passengers off at a safe location.
Duty of Care of Agency Hiring Bus Drivers
Agencies have a duty not to hire bus drivers who are not qualified to operate such a vehicle. Agencies should not simply take the word of an applicant, but rather should confirm the driver has the requisite license to operate the coach in question. Further, background checks are a must. Where appropriate, screening to determine potential drug or alcohol use should be implemented.
Duty of Care Regarding Bus Maintenance
Depending on the circumstances, either the casino, the bus company, or both may bear the duty of care regarding the maintenance of buses used in casino bus tours. Buses should be subject to regular maintenance. Some of the many points of inspection include making sure tires are properly inflated and in good condition, brakes are working properly, the windshield wipers are not only in working order, but sufficient to clear the windshield of rain, sleet, or (depending on location) snow. Generally speaking, buses should be free from defect.
Additionally, the interior of the bus should be maintained in a manner that ensures the safety of the passengers. For example, spills should be cleaned up quickly to reduce, if not eliminate, the potential for slips and falls. Steps should be clearly marked with bright reflective tape to avoid falls and other injuries. If the bus comes equipped with seatbelts, these should all be in working order.
Request A Free Consultation
Contact Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers if you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to a casino tour bus accident. Put our legal team’s experience to work for you. We never collect a fee for our services, unless a recovery is made. Call us at (800) 718-4658 , use the live chat feature or complete the contact form on this page for a free, confidential consultation.
