Our bus accident lawyers are the ones to call if you or someone you love is involved in any type of bus accident. According to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, based on information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are almost 300 fatal bus accidents in an average year. Of those, nearly 30% involve transit buses.
 
Millions of students use school bus transportation and it has proven to be the safest way to transport a child, especially given the high number of trips taken. But bus accidents do happen. Children are injured or killed each year in school bus related accidents sometimes as pedestrians while getting on or off a school bus. Although school bus accident rates are considerably low, when they do occur, they can be devastating for all involved and you need an experienced lawyer able to get you the highest compensation allowed by law.

Bus accidents can be attributed to driver negligence, inadequate security, negligence, dangerous roadways, weather conditions, defective safety equipment and improper maintenance. Many factors must be taken into consideration when evaluting fault in a school bus accident. Although infrequent, school bus accidents do occur, and a bus accident lawyer can help determine the negligent party and assess any damages that may be claimed as compensation for your suffering.

One of the most disastrous bus accidents in the United States history was the bus collision at Carrollton, Kentucky on May 14, 1988. A drunk driver traveling the wrong way on an interstate highway collided head-on with a school bus which was in use as a church bus. The initial crash was exacerbated by the bus catching fire and difficulties encountered by the occupants attempting to evacuate the crowded bus in the smoke and darkness. The fire killed 27 people and injured 34 of 67 persons on the bus. Only 6 bus passengers escaped significant injury or death. The drunk driver of the pickup truck sustained only minor injuries.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined "the probable cause of the collision between the pickup truck and the bus was the alcohol-impaired condition of the pickup truck driver who, operated his vehicle opposite to the direction of traffic flow on an interstate highwayContributing to the severity of the accident was the puncture of the bus fuel tank and ensuing fire in the bus, the partial blockage by the rear bench seats of the area leading to the rear emergency door which impeded rapid passenger egress, and the flammability of the materials in the bus seat cushions."
The safety issues discussed in the report include:

Following the NTSB report and much sooner in many instances, many federal, state, and local agencies and bus manufacturers changed regulations, vehicle features, and operating practices.There was considerable civil litigation. Ford Motor Company, Sheller Globe, and others eventually contributed to settlements for compensation with all victims.
School bus safety advocates are fighting to implement seat belts in the design of all yellow school buses and furthermore, in an effort to prevent pedestrians and non-bus occupants from being injured in a school bus accident, states have instituted safety precautions that must be taken by drivers in the vicinity of school buses.

Our personal injury and bus accident lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means that you don't pay a cent until you receive compensation, at which point you are charged a percentage of the settlement.

There is no fee for our services unless a recovery is won.

Our New York law firm offers a free initial consultation. Click here to contact our personal injury lawyers about bus accidents and find out whether you have grounds to make a claim, at no cost to you. You may also call us toll free at: 1-800-9-LIPSIG for a free consultation.