Bus accidents are an issue not often encountered by many, but when they do, life itself can hang in the balance. The majority of people who are involved in bus, mass transit, or streetcar/subway accidents are injured in one way or another, and due to the complex nature of the incident, many people do not know how to handle it. The first reaction to being an a bus accident is to contact your inssurance company directly. While at first it may seem easier to skip contacting an attorney and handle the process yourself, the exact opposite is true. Get the maximum settlement possible for your injury, and don’t settle for anything less by selling yourself short. The experts of Portland Personal Injury Attorneys are always standing by to help you select a professional lawyer that will help resolve your problems every step of the way.
An Overview
Buses to many seem far safer than cars. You seldom hear of bus or mass transit incidents occuring in Portland, and the process of riding a bus can seem like a simple process. The fact of the matter is, you and the rest of the passengers that ride the bus entrust their personal safety to the training and competence of the driver, as well as the condition of the bus itself. Bus accidents not only affect the people riding the bus, but because of the size of the vehicle, pedestrians can be affected as well, resulting in mass casualty incidents (MCI).
Common Causes: Bus Accidents
There are quite a few reasons that accidents involving busses or other forms of mass transportation can occur. While all drivers must adhere to a strict ruleset and training instruction while operating a bus, many variables are still beyond your personal control:
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Failure to drive safely in dangerous weather conditions
- Failure to obey traffic laws
- Improper or incomplete bus repair
Quick Statistics: Bus Accidents
- Every year, approximately 50 people die each year in bus related accidents, according to a report by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
- Also stated in the report it is stated that around 1,000 people are injured in bus accidents as well.
An Breif Example
You ride the bus each day to work. One morning, you step on the bus and sit down in your normal seat, sipping your coffee. Suddenly, a huge jolt rocks the cabin of the bus, you spill your coffee and hit your head on the seat in front of you. Many of the other passengers appear injured in similar ways to you. Upon exiting the bus, you realize the cause of the sudden stop was an angled collision with a small sedan. Due to the circumstances being beyond your control, after being given the OK by responding paramedics, you take out your phone and call Portland Personal Injury Attorneys. From there, you are set up with a knowledgable lawyer on the subject of bus injuries, and can rest easy knowing that your situation will be taken care of.