Did you know that there are over 15,000 bus accidents every year in the United States, with almost half of them resulting in injuries? California, in 2020, had 176 fatalities recorded as a result of bus accidents. Additional bus accident statistics and school bus crash statistics include:
- Despite California having the largest population, New York actually saw the most bus accidents in 2022.
- 1.5 percent of bus accidents were fatal in 2022
- Florida saw the most fatal school bus accidents in 2021
- From 2013 to 2022, school bus crashes resulted in around 132,000 injuries, although overall school bus deaths declined over this time period
- While school buses remain as one of students’ safest transportation modes, around 108 people die in school bus accidents each year
Bus accidents can involve transit buses and school bus crashes. The accidents can lead to injuries such as spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries, and fatal bus accidents can occur. Common reasons for bus accidents include:
- Driver negligence
- Fatigue
- Weather
- Left turns
- Other drivers
- Bus company negligence
- Overloading
- Badly maintained roads
- Fires
- Mechanical defects
- Road hazards
Call us today for a free consultation, text us from this page or fill out this page’s free case evaluation form if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a bus accident. We can help you recover financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain, suffering, wrongful death and more after a bus accident. The only fee we will charge is a percentage of any compensation we recover after your bus accident. Call us today.
Bus Driver Negligence
Negligence is failing to exercise reasonable caution in order to prevent harm. When bus drivers are negligent, it can lead to catastrophic consequences, such as a fatal school bus crash. Those who injure others via negligence are liable for the injuries under California law.
Examples of negligence by drivers include:
Disobeying the Law
A common form of driver negligence is a driver ignoring traffic laws.
Examples of drivers ignoring traffic laws include failing to stop at red lights, speeding and rolling stop signs.
Unfortunately, driver negligence can lead to bad consequences, like fatal crashes.
Distracted Driving
The primary cause of United States traffic accidents is distracted driving.
Distracted driving is when drivers are distracted by something and, as a result, fail to pay attention to what is around them on the road.
Common examples of distracted driving are eating while driving and texting while driving.
Unfortunately, serious consequences like severe injuries or school bus deaths can result from distracted driving.
Driving While Under the Influence
It is extremely dangerous to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Around 28 people die each day due to drunk driving accidents in the United States.
A lot of people think of driving under the influence as driving while under the influence of alcohol. However, many DUI cases actually involve prescription drugs.
Unfortunately, driving under the influence can lead to terrible consequences, such as bus accident injuries and school bus fatalities.
Driving Recklessly
Reckless driving is when drivers handle vehicles recklessly and/or end up driving in a manner which is overly aggressive.
As an example, if a driver swerves between lanes back and forth, this would be considered reckless driving.
Bus Driver Fatigue
Drowsiness or fatigue interfere with the ability of drivers, like school bus drivers, to safely operate vehicles. They critically impair drivers’ senses, reaction times and attention. Driving while drowsy can lead to delayed responses to road events which are unexpected. It can worsen one’s ability to identify hazards and it can lead to worse decision making. The odds of accidents which can injure passengers like school bus passengers are increased by these issues.
Fatigue is quite the common issue with bus drivers. Bus drivers see work conditions which can increase their odds of being fatigued while working. Bus driver fatigue can be contributed to by:
- Unhealthy lifestyle or diet
- Reversed sleep schedules or overnight shifts
- Repetitive bus routes
- Long working hours
- Sleeping issues like insomnia
- Inadequate sleep
- Medications which cause drowsiness
- Medical conditions like sleep apnea
- Pressure to violate restrictions on hours of service
It is vital for bus companies to have effective strategies which manage driver fatigue. These companies need to make sure restrictions on hours of service are complied with. They need to promote healthy sleeping and lifestyle habits. They need to give adequate rest breaks in order to prevent drowsy driving. Drivers can be helped to make better decisions via ongoing training regarding fatigue signs and managing fatigue.
Bad Weather
Rainy weather can cause bus accidents due to reduced visibility and slick roads. Rain can cause hydroplaning, which involves buses’ tires losing traction, causing drivers to lose control.
Bus drivers need to drive cautiously and slow down to avoid crashes in the rain.
Some parts of California, like the Central Valley and Mojave Desert, see very high temperatures in the summer. These temperatures can lead to tire blowouts which can cause accidents. Bus engines can overheat in these temperatures, causing mechanical failures.
Bus companies need to maintain their vehicles properly to mitigate hot weather risks. Bus drivers should also make sure they take breaks in areas which are shaded, and make sure air conditioning units work properly.
California sometimes sees foggy weather, especially on the coast and in the Central Valley. Reduced visibility can lead to bus drivers not being able to see the road in front of them, increasing accident risks. Damp weather can lead to slippery roads which make acceleration and braking difficult.
Bus drivers need to slow down in foggy weather and use low beams.
Strong winds can lead to buses swaying and possibly overturning, especially on elevated highways and bridges. Snow and hail can lead to slippery roads.
Bus drivers should drive more slowly when it’s windy and keep safe distances from any other vehicles. Buses need to be equipped with the equipment and tools necessary to handle bad weather, like antifreeze and snow chains.
Left-Turn Crashes
A lot of bus accidents are caused by left turns. When bus drivers try to make left turns, they often have blind spots which make it difficult for them to see oncoming vehicles. Because of different arrangements of vehicles, left turns may lead to complicated accidents. Some large buses utilize several lanes when they turn, blocking cars in the lanes. Because of obstructed views, drivers have blind spots. Bus drivers can underestimate the speed of oncoming vehicles or how much time it will take to turn. Because of the turning angle and diversion rate, pedestrians may be hurt. Bus drivers can forget to use turn signals, exposing other drivers.
Bus drivers are usually at fault in accidents involving left turns. However, exceptions exist, such as:
- Bus drivers turning left on green left turn arrows
- Other drivers being in a hurry and not giving bus drivers adequate time to turn
- Bus drivers turning legally when unavoidable circumstances like engine failure lead to collisions
Left turns can severely injure passengers because they involve the sides of vehicles where little protection exists. Severe damages can result due to a lack of airbags being involved. All drivers need to follow the rules of the road in order to avoid accidents.
Other Drivers
Even when bus drivers drive flawlessly and follow the rules of the road, bus accidents can still happen due to the negligence of other drivers. This includes other drivers disobeying the law, driving while distracted, driving under the influence or driving recklessly.
Bus Company Negligence
Since bus drivers carry passengers for money, they are considered to be “common carriers.” As such, bus companies, under California law, need to exercise more care than the average company. Because of this, bus companies can be found negligent and therefore liable for accidents if they fail to:
- Maintain and inspect their buses
- Make needed repairs
- Supervise and train drivers
- Hire qualified drivers
- Require drivers to take adequate rest periods
When bus companies fail to do the above, they violate their duty of care. When this violation leads to accidents that injure people, the injury victims have grounds to file lawsuits for negligence.
Bus Overloading
When buses are overloaded, it can cause issues such as:
Increased Driver Distraction
It is hard enough to control a bus without distractions. Passengers, unfortunately, can be very distracting and loud. These distractions can be difficult to ignore when there are too many passengers. Peripheral movement and noise increase immeasurably, making it hard for drivers to focus safely.
Balance Issues
Buses need to stay balanced in order to not tip over. However, overcrowded buses can compromise the balance of buses. This can lead to problems when turning or changing lanes. Improper balance inside the cab may lead to passengers losing footing, leading to injuries being sustained and causing bus control issues.
Increased Stopping Distance
Stopping distances of vehicles are increased by increased mass. Therefore, overcrowded buses have much longer stopping distances. This can lead to drivers misjudging stopping distances and crashing into vehicles in front of them.
Injury Rates
There is higher chance of collision injuries occurring when more people are in a bus. Passengers can bump into each other and get pushed out of buses when doors open.
Design Failures
The designs and functions of buses can fail when too many people are inside of them. Excessive weight can make buses unpredictable and sluggish. Door strength can be compromised when too many people lean on them. Braking failure can be caused by excessive mass.
Poorly Maintained Roads
Badly maintained roads can cause bus accidents. Medians are intended to stop straying vehicles from getting in collisions with vehicles going in the opposite direction. However, medians might:
- Not have reflectors, causing confusion and misleading bus drivers
- Be deficient, leading to buses crossing over to the road’s other side, leading to serious accidents
- Be very stiff, leading to buses to bounce off of them into traffic, causing collisions
Badly installed road signs can lead to accidents. Road signs are installed to:
- Inform about road conditions
- Alert about road inconsistencies
- Tell drivers what regulations to observe
- Alert drivers to possible hazards
When road signs are installed badly, they can fail to do the above things, leading to accidents.
Accidents can be caused by onramps or offramps which are installed badly or are too short. Poorly graded highways can lead to water pooling in the road, leading to hydroplaning and accidents.
Bus Fires
Bus fires can lead to severe burn injuries and even death. Bus drivers are frequently caused by friction at the wheel, engine failure and electrical issues.
Electrical failures typically start in battery compartments, engine compartments or along electrical wires’ paths.
Engine failures can be prevented by thorough, regular maintenance schedules.
Friction at the wheel is the most common cause of bus fires. The cause is usually wheel bearings, tires or brakes. Poor tire pressure can cause dual tires to rub together, leading to a buildup of heat which may ignite oil or grease in the wheel.
Mechanical Defects
Sometimes crashes can be caused by mechanical defects. When this occurs, multiple parties may be at fault for the crash. For example, the bus company could be liable for failing to properly maintain the vehicle. However, the manufacturer of the bus or defective part may also be held liable if it can be shown that the bus or part was defective due to a design defect or manufacturing defect.
Road Hazards
Common road hazards which may lead to accidents include cracks and potholes in the pavement, road construction sites, uneven expansion joints, debris, slick or wet surfaces, crossing animals and obstructed or missing signs.
Hiring a Bus Accident Attorney
Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one were injured or killed in a bus accident.
We have been handling bus accident cases since 1990 and have recovered over $750,000,000 for our clients. Our extensive experience in handling bus accident claims will allow us to recover the most money possible on your behalf.
We may be able to get you to doctors who won’t charge for treatment until your case is over if you can’t afford to have your injuries treated. We work to coordinate medical treatment without upfront cost whenever possible so our clients can focus on their recovery while their claims are being resolved.
We won’t charge any fee to handle your bus accident claim until and unless we recover money on your behalf. This means no upfront or out-of-pocket fee – the only fee charged will be a percentage of any money we recover for you.
Call us today for a free consultation.
