Bus, Shuttle, Taxi and Mass Transit Accidents

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Contact us now for a FREE consultation regarding your accident case. There is no obligation to hire a lawyer. The cost of legal services are always a major concern for people who have been injured in an accident and may be unable to work. We offer our legal services on a contingent fee basis. A contingent fee is simply a percentage of the recovery, paid at the conclusion of the case. There is no fee until our personal injury attorneys successfully recover fair compensation for you however any expenses or costs incurred during the trying of your case could be your responsibility.

Library for Bus, Shuttle, Taxi and Mass Transit Accidents:

Buses are generally thought to be a safe method of travel; after all, they are significantly larger than other vehicles on the road and many buses do not even come equipped with seat belts.

A study by the National Bus Safety Council between the years 1987 and 1996 found 4.3 bus rider fatalities per year compared to 44,000 passenger vehicle fatalities over the same time frame. However, buses are involved in an alarming number of crashes, many of which prove fatal.

Who is at Fault for Bus Accidents?

Because buses can carry large numbers of people and often are cumbersome to drive, it is important that bus drivers are well-trained and qualified for the job. A bus driver can be held at fault for causing an accident. However, bus accident lawsuits are not always clear because state and federal laws differ in who they say is at fault for such accidents. "Common carriers" are defined as being someone whose business is transporting people or material items from one place to another for compensation; such services typically are open to the public. Common carriers, which include commercial bus companies, are governed federally and by most state governments, and the drivers of these vehicles are required to have adequate training and equipment to complete their duties. Bus drivers consequently are subjected to strict standards for their performance and can be found at fault in bus accidents. However, the involvement of insurance companies and contractors in accident legal proceedings make questions of who is at fault much more complex. Because state governments are involved in establishing their own common carrier regulation, bus accident litigation action can vary widely from state to state. Finding an experienced lawyer who is familiar with the common carrier laws of the area in which the accident took place and insurance policies regarding bus accidents is highly advisable.

What Should Be Done in the Event of a Bus Accident?

- If no law enforcement is present at the scene, immediately file an accident report with the police, sheriff, or highway patrol.

- Be sure to record the name, address, insurance information, vehicle license number, and driver's license number of everyone who was involved in the accident. Also obtain names and contact information from any witnesses.

- Take photographs of the accident scene, of all vehicles involved, and any injuries to victims of the accident.

- Do not discuss the accident or any injuries you suffered with anyone other than your doctor or lawyer.

- Do not agree to making a recorded statement or sign any document that you have not first reviewed with your lawyer.

- Immediately seek medical treatment and be sure to tell your doctor how your injury occurred and about any pain from which you may be suffering.

Should I Contact an Auto Accident Lawyer?

In the event of a bus accident, it can be incredibly beneficial to have the counsel of an experienced bus or auto accident attorney. If you or someone you know has been injured in a bus accident and believe someone else may be at fault, use the auto accident attorney information request form on this page to get in touch with an expert auto accident attorney or law firm in your area today!

Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics-CNTBS

The Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics was established in 1988 to formalize the national program to collect and analyze truck accident data, which had begun with the 1980 data year. Since then the program has expanded to include a survey of bus crashes.

Sponsors

Since its inception, the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics has been jointly supported by government, industry, and private sponsors. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provides critical support for the TIFA and BIFA projects, as well as a series of other projects to support the FMCSA's mission to promote the safety of trucks and buses on our Nation's highways.

Other projects have been supported by Sandia National Laboratories, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and the Federal Highway Administration. Private organizations include the American Trucking Associations, the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association, TRW Automotive, the National Truck Equipment Association, the Electronic Stability Coalition and certain major truck manufacturers

The Center's major projects include:

.   Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents (TIFA) survey

CNTBS has conducted an annual national survey on fatal traffic accidents involving medium and heavy trucks since 1980. The resulting data file contains variables collected from the survey as well as Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data for those cases. While the FARS file provides much information on the accident environment and events, the TIFA survey collects details about the physical configuration of the truck.

.   Buses Involved in Fatal Accidents (BIFA) survey

Patterned after the TIFA project, a similar survey for buses was begun in 1999, producing the Buses Involved in Fatal Accidents (BIFA) file. Since the BIFA survey is tailored specifically to buses, in-depth descriptions of the bus and the carrier that operated it are obtained and added to the FARS variables.

.   Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) project

All states are required to report crashes involving a truck or bus, with a defined severity criteria, to the MCMIS Crash file, maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). For this project, CNTBS assesses the accuracy and completeness of the MCMIS file on a state-by-state basis.

.   Project for Sandia National Laboratories to Geolocate Fatal Truck Crashes

The CNTBS has been working on a study to determine the precise locations of fatal truck crashes. The study is supported by Sandia National Laboratories as part of their efforts to enhance the safety of hazardous material shipment by the U.S. Department of Energy

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