Philadelphia Bus Accident Lawyers
Bus accidents can cause serious injuries to passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists. If you were injured in a bus accident in Philadelphia, you need an experienced bus accident attorney on your side. Bus accident claims are complicated, so you need an attorney who is knowledgeable about the various rules and regulations governing the bus industry.
Cousin Benny’s Personal Injury legal team fights to protect the rights of the injured. We can pursue compensation on your behalf while you focus on your recovery. Call us today to take advantage of a free consultation.
Types of Buses in Philadelphia Involved in Accidents
Various types of buses can be involved in accidents in Philadelphia, including the following:
School Buses
While school buses are one of the safest forms of transportation, school bus accidents still occur. These accidents can implicate various responsible parties, including bus drivers, the school district, and parties responsible for maintaining safety standards.
Public Transit Buses
City buses can also be involved in accidents. Government entities are often responsible for operating public transit systems, hiring qualified drivers, and maintaining their buses. Failing to properly adhere to relevant regulations can impose liability on the city.
Long-Haul Buses
Long-haul buses, such as Greyhound, may drive through multiple states, transporting passengers. These large corporations may have to comply with varying state laws.
Private Buses
Party buses or buses owned by individuals or corporations to transport passengers can also be involved in accidents. Sorting out liability for these accidents may require an investigation of the ownership structure.
Tour Buses
Whether the bus transports groups across long distances or is local, it can still be involved in serious accidents. The tour company or bus driver may be responsible for resulting accidents.
Any of the above types of bus accidents can injure passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Common Public Transit Injuries
Buses often lack seat belts or airbags to protect passengers in the event of a collision. Additionally, passengers may be standing, and their bodies can become projectiles in a crash. Bus injuries tend to result in serious harm, including the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries and other head injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Chest and abdominal injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
Our experienced attorneys can fight for the financial compensation you deserve and handle your personal injury claim from start to finish.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
Because there are so many different parties involved in the busing industry, various factors can contribute to bus crashes, including the following:
Inexperienced or Untrained Drivers
Bus driving is a difficult job, so it can be hard for employers to find qualified drivers. Bus companies may hire inexperienced drivers and fail to adequately train them. Untrained drivers are more likely to get involved in accidents because they don’t know how to safely handle the vehicle or handle complex driving situations.
Speeding
Speeding increases the amount of time that it takes a vehicle to come to a complete stop. When bus drivers speed, this is particularly dangerous because the bus already requires more time to come to a complete stop after recognizing a hazard due to the large size. Speeding dramatically increases the likelihood of a serious crash.
Failure to Yield the Right of Way
Some bus drivers use the vehicle’s size to intimidate other motorists and disregard traffic rules. For example, they may go in front of other motorists even when the other motorist had the right of way. When bus drivers fail to yield the right of way, collisions and severe injuries are more likely to occur.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is anything that takes a driver’s attention off the task of driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Common distractions include:
- Rowdy passengers
- Texting while driving
- Cell phone use
- Engaging with the dispatch system
- Looking at GPS notifications
- Eating or drinking
When a driver is distracted, they are more likely to make driving errors and have delayed reactions to potential hazards. The large size of buses makes distracted driving particularly dangerous.
Illegal Turns
Bus drivers may sometimes make illegal turns, such as U-turns, turning against traffic signals, or failing to yield the right of way while turning. These dangerous maneuvers can put other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists at risk.
Fatigued Driving
Bus drivers often work long hours and begin their routes very early in the morning or late at night. These can lead to driver fatigue or sleep deprivation. Fatigue can delay a driver’s reaction times and impair their judgment and alertness, contributing to serious accidents.
Poor Maintenance
Buses include thousands of moving parts. If any of these parts fail, they can contribute to a crash. For example, mechanical failures, such as issues with the suspension system or steering mechanism, can cause the bus to drift into traffic in adjoining lanes. Blown tires and faulty brakes can also contribute to accidents.
Buses should also be regularly inspected to identify any possible mechanical issues. Any necessary repairs or replacements should be made promptly.
Bus Overcrowding
Overcrowding occurs when more passengers are in the vehicle than is recommended. This can compromise safety because passengers may lean against emergency exits, or standing passengers can be propelled into other passengers during a collision. Additionally, exceeding the designated seating capacity can make the bus difficult to balance.
Student Misbehavior
In the case of school buses or buses used for student transport, student misbehavior can contribute to accidents and create unsafe conditions. Fights, yelling, pushing, and other disruptive behavior can distract the driver and lead to bus crashes.
Poor Road Conditions
During Philadelphia’s treacherous winters, ice and snow can cause slippery conditions that can contribute to bus crashes when drivers don’t know how to navigate these roadways or adjust their speed to account for them. Other non-weather-related conditions, such as construction zones, inadequate signage, or potholes, can contribute to motor vehicle accidents.
Who Is Liablen for a Bus Accident?
Sorting out liability after a bus crash can be complicated. Parties and witnesses may have different accounts. Additionally, because bus companies are usually considered common carriers, they have a heightened duty to transport their passengers safely.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys can investigate your case to determine if any of the following parties are responsible for your injuries:
- Bus driver: Bus drivers are responsible for performing their job to the best of their abilities. They can be held liable if they make a driving error that causes injury to others.
- Bus companies: Bus companies are responsible for the negligence of their drivers. They can also be held responsible for failing to properly train their drivers, violating safety regulations, or failing to properly maintain their fleets.
- Government agencies: If your bus accident involved a school bus or a city bus, the government agency responsible for operating the bus can be held responsible for injuries. Likewise, the government can be held liable when it is responsible for road conditions and neglected its duty.
- Other motorists: Other motorists can contribute to bus accidents due to speeding, failure to yield, or other causes.
Our lawyers are familiar with many aspects of personal injury law and can prepare your legal claim under all available legal theories to maximize your compensation.
SEPTA Claims
An alarming number of accidents involving the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) occur each year in Philadelphia. This massive transit system operates about 120 buses in or near the Philadelphia area. Personal injury claims involving SEPTA can be more complicated, as they can involve the following legal issues:
- Governmental immunity: Issues of sovereign immunity can arise due to a SEPTA accident. Pennsylvania case law has drawn a strict distinction between injuries that occur while the vehicle is in operation and those that occur when the bus is stopped, making it more difficult for injured passengers to recover fair compensation.
- Complex evidence: Because there have been so many SEPTA bus accidents in recent years, the city has installed onboard cameras in these vehicles to help identify hazards and correct them. However, obtaining this evidence without the help of an experienced attorney can be difficult.
- Multiple legal claims: When a commercial bus accident occurs, many people may be injured. Maximum insurance limits may come into play, so you may need to work hard to establish liability against all at-fault parties and recover compensation.
- Complex legal process: If you are injured in a SEPTA accident, a different legal process is involved. For example, to get your medical expenses covered following the accident, you will likely need to complete an application for benefits and an affidavit of no insurance. You will also need to notify the city of your personal injury claim within six months of the accident.
Our Philadelphia injury lawyers understand these complex aspects of SEPTA claims and are prepared to tackle them.
Contact Our Dedicated Personal Injury Lawyers for Help with Your Claim
If you were injured in a SEPTA or other bus accident, a Philadelphia bus accident attorney from Cousin Benny Personal Injury can help. Contact our law firm today for a free case review.