Causes of Bus Accidents (all types) 

Bus travel is typically safe, but that doesn’t mean bus accidents never happen. If you experience one, you may sustain serious injuries, emotional trauma, and financial fallout. Causes of bus accidents vary. They can result from operator errors, mechanical failures, environmental factors, and violations of federal and state bus regulations.

A bus accident lawyer from Munley Law is here to help you recover the compensation you deserve when someone else’s negligence causes your bus accident. We have been successfully representing injury victims for 65 years, and will put our extensive experience and insightful legal skills into your case.

Operator Errors Are Common Causes of Bus Accidents

Bus drivers can make unintentional errors or commit driving violations that put their passengers and others in danger. Inadequate training could cause such accidental mistakes. In those situations, the bus company responsible for vetting and preparing its drivers could bear at least some fault for the crash.

When drivers know better but still practice unsafe behaviors, the fault may belong to them. For example, phone-related driver distraction remains a significant problem. Texting, scrolling social media, or otherwise engaging with a device can cause distracted-driving accidents.

Other forms of distraction are also problematic. Bus operators often cover long distances and can lose focus on driving. They may daydream, observe scenery more than the road, interact with passengers, or try to grab a bite or a drink while driving. Long hours on the road contribute to driver fatigue as well. Driving while fatigued can be as dangerous as impaired driving. Both conditions slow reaction times and compromise judgment.

Bus-Company Pressure

Bus companies put pressure on drivers to stay on schedule. Commuters need to get to work on time, and interstate travelers or tourists want to keep their vacations on schedule. Bus companies want to maintain a reputation for providing reliable service, and may punish drivers who fall behind, even when the driver is not to blame.

To keep customers and employers happy, bus operators may drive faster than is safe to make up lost time and stay on schedule. Speeding is an obvious hazard, making it even easier for a driver to lose control of the vehicle. The substantial weight of buses already makes them harder to stop. Driving at excessive speeds makes stopping in time to avoid a crash even less probable.

A Medical Event

Sometimes, medical conditions can prompt crashes. A driver may pass out, experience a heart attack or stroke. These situations are especially tragic. The event could have been completely unexpected and unfortunate. Other times, they may have been avoidable. Your bus accident lawyer will investigate to see if the driver or company was aware of the medical condition and potential danger it presented. A party that knew of the condition and looked the other way could bear culpability.

Mechanical Failures Can Lead to Bus Accidents

Like any vehicle, buses can experience mechanical failures that cause crashes. Bus tires take a lot of wear and tear, and tire blowouts can result. Even the most attentive and experienced drivers can struggle to regain control of the massive vehicle after a blowout. Those not paying attention or with less experience are in far more trouble.

Buses have intricate braking and steering systems. Brake failure and steering problems create obvious hazards. Buses are heavy and cumbersome. Bringing them to a stop and keeping them on track is challenging even when all systems are in proper working order.

Drivers need to be aware of engine malfunction indications or other problems with their vehicles and report potential hazards. Bus companies must maintain careful oversight of every bus in their fleets. Noncompliance with maintenance standards represent acts of maintenance negligence. Bus inspectors and mechanics must also recognize defects and complete repairs before putting buses back on the road.

Environmental Factors Contribute to Bus Accidents

Accidents can result from factors outside the driver or bus company’s control – or at least partially outside that control. Weather conditions can present hazards. Rain and snow lead to poor visibility. High winds can make the bus harder to control, and icy roads can cause fatal crashes. Drivers must still adjust their driving to those conditions. They may need to slow down or even pull over until conditions improve.

Road defects may send a bus off course. Potholes, uncleared debris, or other hazards can cause tire blowouts or skidding. Broken traffic signals or streetlights are another type of road defect. State and municipal government entities are usually responsible for keeping roads safe for travel. When their failures lead to crashes, the respective entities may be at fault.

Construction Areas

Construction zones are areas posing a higher risk for accidents. Usually, there’s a lot happening at these sites. Large trucks and machines take up space and draw attention. Workers may pass by oncoming traffic a little too close for comfort. Bus drivers may have difficulty maneuvering through shrunken lanes or avoiding obstacles in their way.

While bus operators bear significant responsibility when traveling through construction zones, construction companies do, too. They need to have proper warning lights, traffic cones, and signs in place. They also need to clear these areas of debris and keep them appropriately lit during off-work hours. If they do not, they could be at fault for resulting accidents.

Traffic Congestion

Traffic jams require frequent stops and starts and present increased opportunities for rear-end accidents. Drivers must stay focused on the road ahead to avoid hitting the car in front of them. Though it may be tempting to switch lanes to gain a few feet, operators must remember that their vehicles take up much more space and can easily sideswipe other vehicles during lane changes.

Trust your Munley Law bus accident lawyer to carry out a full post-accident analysis to discover the cause of your accident and identify the party at fault. Getting these initial steps right paves the way for a more successful claim outcome.

Acts of Non-Compliance Can Cause Bus Accidents on Private or Public Vehicles

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) oversees commercial vehicle safety and recognizes the specific dangers buses present. A bus crash can produce mass injuries and casualties. Buses carry many passengers, and the size of the vehicle increases its potential for more widespread damage to those traveling nearby.

According to FMCSA crash statistics, there were 624 bus accidents during a recent year in Pennsylvania. The accidents caused 12 deaths and 525 injuries Compliance with FMCSA commercial vehicle regulations is mandatory. Regulations govern all aspects of the vehicles’ operation and maintenance, including:

• Bus operators’ hours on duty and mandatory rest periods

• Bus operators’ consumption of alcohol or other substances

• Vehicle safety features

• Schedules for inspection and maintenance

• Driver training and licensing

The FMSCA has additional specific passenger carrier regulations. Any acts of non-compliance put passengers and others on the roads at risk. In investigating your accident, your bus accident lawyer will expose violations and work to hold the negligent party accountable.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Regulations

While the FMCSA imposes federal-level regulations passenger carriers in all states must follow, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (DOT) has its own set of extensive rules for bus safety. These regulations are presented in its Commercial Driver Manual. This comprehensive manual addresses everything from commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirements and violations to how to transport passengers safely and what to look for during vehicle inspections in various weather conditions.

Commercial Drivers’ License Violations Can Lead to Tragic Crashes

To secure a CDL and earn the right to operate a passenger carrier, candidates must pass a series of tests. Keeping that license requires compliance with all regulations. Violations can, and have, lead to devastating accidents. Examples of accident-causing CDL violations include:

• Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .04% or higher

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substance

• Driving 15 miles per hour above the posted speed limit

• Making improper or erratic lane changes

• Driving recklessly

These and other violations not only cause accidents, but can cost drivers their CDL. Some violations warrant suspension, and others a total license revocation. The team at Munley Law will review the driver’s history after your bus accident. If drivers have a history of suspensions or if the bus companies did not take unsafe drivers off the road, these factors could support your claim.

Claims for Accidents With Private and Public Buses Follow Different Rules and Procedures

Interstate buses, such as Greyhound, take passengers across state lines. These buses are usually owned by private companies. The same applies to shuttle buses. These vehicles take passengers on specific routes, from an airport to a hotel, for example. Municipal buses are government-owned, as are school buses.

Private and public buses can have accidents for similar reasons. The rules and procedures for filing injury claims against private or public entities differ. Munley Law’s bus accident lawyers has experience with both types of claims. We will know how the respective procedures and laws apply to your circumstances.

Timeline Differences

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has established a two-year limitation for filing most claims against private entities. Your bus accident lawyer can tell you if exceptions or extensions apply to your claim. Claims against government entities have a six-month limitation. If the accident in question occurs on a school bus, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) bus, or county-run bus, such as Monroe County Transportation Authority (MCTA), this shorter limitation applies.

School-Bus Crash Statistics

The Pennsylvania DOT 2022 crash facts reports 271 school-bus involved crashes during that year. Of that total, 146 accidents involved injuries:

• 25 bus operators

• 159 school-bus passengers

• 7 school-aged pedestrians

• 8 other pedestrians

• 95 other-vehicle occupants

One accident led to the death of another involved vehicle’s occupant. For anyone injured in a school-bus or other public-bus accident, partnering with an attorney quickly is essential since the timeline for filing against a school district or other government entity is only six months.

For bus drivers injured on the job, the best way forward may be to file a claim for workers’ compensation. Munley Law has extensive experience managing workers’ compensation cases.

Munley Law Can Handle All Elements of Your Bus Accident Claim

Collecting damages from a bus accident claim supports your recovery. It can cover your medical treatment and future care needs, and recover wages lost while you heal. If you need continuing medical care or cannot return to work, a settlement or trial award can make up for those losses as well.

Bus accidents are traumatizing. The physical pain and emotional suffering you endure also have worth. We will include the value of these losses when determining the settlement value of your accident case. Our goal is to get you justice by securing the maximum amount available.

Connect with us quickly after the accident so we can get right to work collecting evidence while it is still accessible. Then, we can identify who is to blame and file a claim against them. We know how personal injury lawsuits work and will manage all the details so you can put your resources into recovering.

We Are Committed to Fighting for Justice for All

You need someone to lead your fight for justice, and a bus accident lawyer from Munley Law is ready to take that role. We are compassionate advocates offering fierce legal representation, and will work to resolve your case as efficiently and favorably as possible. Call or send a message to connect with us for a free consultation. You can trust our team to find the cause of your accident and hold the negligent party accountable.