Bus Accidents: The Tragic Statistics

by Dallas Bus Accident Injury Attorney, Tim O’Hare

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Bus accidents happen daily in the United States. Although they are often considered some of the safest vehicles on the road, each year, thousands of people are involved in school bus or tour bus accidents nationwide. In 2014 — the last year the U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics compiled bus accident statistics — 69,000 accidents involving buses of all types occurred.

These accidents leave thousands injured, and tragically, many killed. Just last fall, in one week alone, five children lost their lives in school bus-related accidents. A local Mesquite student was killed at the start of the 2018-2019 school year in a terrifying fiery bus crash. According to the NHTSA, on average, six children die each year while passengers on school buses. In December, an Alaskan town mayor and her mother were fatally struck and killed by a tour bus.

Tour bus accidents happen more frequently than school bus accidents, and are often catastrophic due to the frequent high rates of speed involved in a tour bus crash. In 2017, a New Braunfels church bus crash claimed the lives of 13 people, leaving just one survivor on the bus.

The leading cause of bus accidents is negligence behind the wheel — driver fatigue, distracted driving and drunk driving are frequently to blame. Mechanical failure is another common cause of bus accidents.

Keeping our kids and families safe on the roads is dependent on improving driver responsibility — for all drivers. Bus drivers and other drivers can help make our roads safer by doing their best to avoid the following unsafe driving practices:

  • Sudden lane changes
  • Speeding, especially in bad weather or unsafe conditions
  • Blocking bus lanes
  • Veering off the road to avoid a collision
  • Walking out in front of a bus

If you have been injured in a bus accident — as a passenger on the bus, or a victim who has been hit by a bus — you need to know your rights and work with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer who will fight for you to recover all due you for your injury and losses.

Our winning reputation in bus accident cases precedes us. We once settled a case for $2.5 million for a client who had suffered catastrophic injuries when the driver of a bus plowed into him after falling asleep at the wheel. We also settled a case for a client who was a passenger on a Greyhound bus when the driver was on the phone while driving and caused an accident.

If you or a loved one are the victim of a bus accident caused by the bus driver’s negligence or fatigue and have suffered bodily injury or property damage, you are entitled to compensation for your losses. Contact the experienced legal team at The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare today. We will help you receive all due compensation for your injury or loss.

Call The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare for your FREE Case Evaluation

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