Common Causes of Bus Accidents

Miami Attorneys Assisting Injury Victims

Many residents of South Florida rely on buses to get from place to place in daily life. Additionally, residents and tourists also utilize this form of transportation for travel and leisure activities. With so many buses on the road, the potential of these vehicles being involved in a collision is high. Passengers as well as other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists can be severely injured in a bus accident. Common causes of bus accidents occur due to a host of different factors, many of which involve negligence due to one or more party’s actions. When a bus accident results in injury, victims involved may be entitled to damages in a personal injury claim. Seeking experienced legal representation is the first step in finding out your legal rights, and Miami bus accident attorney Robert Dixon can help you with that, as well as subsequent steps to take in pursuing justice. Mr. Dixon and his staff at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon are dedicated to making sure victims, and families who have lost loved ones, receive the compensation they need to aid in the financial impact these types of collisions have. Our firm represents clients who have been injured in the South Florida area, including Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. If you have questions regarding your legal rights in the aftermath of an accident involving a bus, please contact our office today to set up a free consultation to speak with a lawyer.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents in South Florida

Many different situations can give rise to injuries resulting from a collision with a bus. Some, however, are more common than others. Many of these frequent causes of a bus accident involves a bus driver’s lack of care or inadequate skill set to operate such a large vehicle. The most common causes of bus accidents in South Florida include the following:

• Intoxicated drivers. Although the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as well as state law, prohibits bus drivers from operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, some drivers do not obey these standards. A drunk or drugged driver has lower reaction time and other judgment impairments that make them extremely dangerous for passenger and others on the road.
• Speeding. Buses, especially those owned and operated by a city, are required to follow a very strict schedule. As such, if a bus is running behind, a driver may decide to travel at excessive speeds in order to make up time, which puts everyone at risk.
• Driver error. Bus drivers are required to hold special licenses to operate these complex and cumbersome vehicles, however, even with these qualifications, a bus driver may still lack the knowledge of care to abide by signs, yield the right of way of another vehicle, or otherwise engage in unsafe maneuvers.
• Distracted driving. As with many drivers, distracted driving is a common practice among those operating a bus as well. Drivers will text, talk to passengers, or otherwise be preoccupied with another activity that takes their attention away from actually driving, which can lead to serious accidents.

Aside from a driver’s negligent actions, mechanical defects as well as hazardous road conditions can also contribute to causing a bus crash.

Holding Negligent Parties Legally LiableMost bus collisions are caused by one or more party’s negligent acts. Negligence is present when a defendant has breached an owed duty of reasonable care, causing a victim’s injury or death, which results in damages. Bus drivers owe a duty to passengers, and all others on the road, to act as a reasonable and prudent person would if under the similar or same circumstances. It is unreasonable to operate a bus while intoxicated or to engage in other reckless actions behind the wheel. When a driver’s negligence leads to another person’s injury, that victim can be compensated for medical expenses, lost income, any changes in earning capacity that results from an injury, and in some circumstances, may also be awarded damages for pain and suffering. Bus companies are also responsible for training their drivers, as well as maintaining their fleet in adherence to any state or federal regulations. Failure to do so can result in liability on the part of a negligent company. Speak to An Attorney in Miami About Your Bus AccidentBus accident victims face an array of injuries, such as broken bones, traumatic brain injury, disfigurement, and even death. Treatment for these injuries take a long time, and for grieving families, the trauma of losing a loved one is permanent. Bus drivers or companies responsible for them should be held accountable for the harm caused by their negligence. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you pursue the proper claim arising out of a Miami collision. To schedule a free, no obligation consultation, call our office at 877.499.4878 or contact us online today.