Bus Accidents
Bus accidents are not common, but when they occur, the injuries and risk of fatalities are high. The personal injury law firm Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman, P.C. represents individuals who have been injured in bus accidents, and the families of those who have been severely injured or killed in a bus accident.
Millions of People Ride Buses Each Day
Buses transport millions of people each year. Commonly used modes of bus transportation include:
• county and city buses
• school buses
• motor coaches
• small (15-passenger) buses, often for the handicapped or elderly
Injuries and Fatalities from Bus Accidents
The data regarding bus accidents are not adequate or current, but according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 140 motor coach bus accidents occurred between 1993 and 1997, resulting in 21 deaths and 442 individual injuries.
School Buses - No Seatbelts
School buses travel literally billions of miles each year to take some 20 million children in the U.S. to and from school and other activities. School buses do not have seat belts. In fact, the design of the “big yellow school bus” that we’re all familiar with has not changed or been updated since 1977.
Causes of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents may be due to a variety of factors, including:
• traffic patterns and problems
• bus driver fatigue, alcohol/drug use
• road conditions (e.g., fog, rain, ice, snow)
• driver mistakes
Consequences of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can be very serious, with the risk of rollover and the accompanying risk of a fire starting in a damaged fuel tank or fuel line. Since few buses have seat belts, the passengers of school buses, motor coaches, etc. are vulnerable to being thrown out of their seats in a bus collision. Injuries from bus accidents include:
• broken bones
• spinal cord, neck, and brain damage
• temporary and permanent paralysis
• internal organ damage
• profuse bleeding
Ask a Bus Accident Attorney about Your Losses
Whatever the circumstances of your bus accident (or that of your loved one), you have legal rights that can be protected with the help of an experienced attorney. Contact the New York City collision attorneys of Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman to speak with a personal injury lawyer today.