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Just like car accidents and other personal injuries, bus accidents is another personal injury type that can lead to devastating injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a bus accident caused by another person’s negligent or careless actions, you need to contact a Massachusetts bus accident attorney. You may be entitled to compensation, and the team at Faneuf Law Group LLC is ready to help. We believe that negligent bus drivers and companies should be held accountable for their actions.
CAUSES OF BUS ACCIDENTS
In many bus accident cases, bus accidents are caused by the negligence of bus drivers or by the actions of the bus companies. Bus drivers must be fully qualified to operate these large vehicles, and they should have their commercial driver’s license. Under no circumstances should a bus driver operate while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Drivers should also never operate while fatigued and should adhere to all FMCSA driving hour guidelines.
Bus companies are responsible for ensuring that all of their buses are regularly inspected and maintained. If they aren’t maintained and inspected on a regular basis, there is a risk of the bus experiencing severe mechanical failure while on the roadway. Bus companies are also responsible for drivers - they should never hire unqualified drivers. Furthermore, they should ensure that each driver adheres to proper safety protocols and procedures.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A BUS ACCIDENT IN Massachusetts
If you are involved in a bus accident in Woburn or anywhere in Massachusetts, there are several steps you can take to ensure you receive maximum compensation. The Woburn, MA bus accident attorneys recommend victims take the following steps in aftermath of a crash:
Don’t leave the scene of the bus crash
Make sure you call the police
Seek medical care, even if you feel completely fine at the moment
If you have a smartphone, be sure to take photos of bus accident and any evidence that may be important
If there was eyewitnesses, be sure to get their name and contact information
Make sure you report the bus crash to your insurer
Seek legal assistance immediately
We can’t stress this enough, even if you do not feel any pain and feel completely fine after a Massachusetts bus crash, seek medical attention right away. Your body may be producing a lot of emotions at the time of the bus accident, so you may not feel injuries right away. In fact, you want to be careful moving after the bus crash. Take a few minutes to recompose yourself.
The signs and symptoms of many accident injuries do not appear until hours or even days after a crash, some may take weeks to present. When you seek medical care, you are ensuring your well-being and establishing a link between the crash and your injuries. This is very important if you plan on seeking a bus crash attorney for your personal injuries.
BUS ACCIDENT STATISTICS & FACTS
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are more than 250 fatalities involving large bus crashes each year in this country. Thousands more are injured and left dealing with the aftermath. Between 2007 and 2016, there were 1,282 people killed in school bus crashes in the US, with an average of 128 school bus fatalities a year.
There are around 480,000 school buses on US roadways and approximately 140,000 transit buses. These vehicles have an average weight of 38,000 pounds, considerably more than the average passenger vehicle, which weighs around 4,000 pounds.
Commercial Bus Accidents
A "commercial" bus is any bus that transports passengers, who pay a "fare," over a predefined route. Such busses include inter-city carriers such as Trailways and Greyhound, intra-city public transportation buses, "complimentary" buses that transport guests from airports and train stations to hotels, and any number of private charter bus companies.
School Bus Accidents
Another type of bus accidents can involve school buses.
From 2007 to 2016 there were 320,874 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of those crashes, 1,147 (0.4%) were classified as school-transportation-related.
Between 2007 and 2016, there have been 1,282 people killed in school-transportation-related crashes—an average of 128 fatalities per year. Occupants of school transportation vehicles accounted for 9 percent of the fatalities, and nonoccupants (pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.) accounted for 20 percent of the fatalities. Most (70%) of the people who lost their lives in these crashes were occupants of other vehicles involved.
From 2007 to 2016, 98 school-age pedestrians (18 and younger) have died in school-transportation- related crashes. Sixty percent were struck by school buses, 2 percent by vehicles functioning as school buses, and 38 percent by other vehicles (passenger cars, light trucks and vans, large trucks, and motorcycles, etc.) involved in the crashes.
This data is brought to you by the NHTSA.
GET THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION YOU NEED AFTER A BOSTON BUS ACCIDENT
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a bus accident in Woburn, we recommend seeking legal assistance today. The team at Faneuf Law Group LLC is ready to help you secure the compensation you need and deserve, which can include:
Your medical expenses related to the bus crash
Lost income and benefits if you are unable to work
Pain and suffering damages
Loss of enjoyment of life damages
Possible punitive damages against the bus driver or company
We handle claims involving all types of buses, including school buses, long-distance transportation buses, regional transit buses, and more.
You can schedule a free consultation of your case with Faneuf Law Group LLC by filling out our contact form or calling (617) 939-9894.