Liability in Bus Accidents - A Complicated Issue

Bus accidents are more complex than manynegligence or carelessness of the driver may be
other motor vehicle collisions for several reasons.the main cause of the accident, and the driver
In addition to involving a larger, heavier vehicle,may be held responsible in court. Driver fatigue
dozens of passengers, and safety features whichand intoxication have all been shown to lead to
vary from state to state and bus to bus,serious crashes.
accidents involving buses must also deal with theThe Bus Company - the law says that bus
complicated task of assigning and proving liability.companies are at least partially responsible for the
If you have been in a bus accident, your firstconduct of their employees. Furthermore, if a
instinct may be to place blame solely on thecompany overworked its drivers, failed to give
driver - which may or may not be correct. Thethem an adequate amount of training, or hired
truth is that responsibility for your crash-relateduntrustworthy individuals as employees, it may be
injuries may rest only partially on the driver, orheld liable for any damages resulting from its
not on the driver at all. A variety of factors canshoddy practices.
contribute to, exacerbate, or influence the resultManufacturers/Repair Companies - in some
of a crash; examining and understanding thesesituations, faulty manufacturing or design of a
factors is key to determining liability in anyvehicle can lead to accidents. Improperly installed
accident situation.or maintained equipment, such as tires, brakes,
Finding the Responsible Partyand steering mechanisms, can also cause drivers
Because bus accidents are so complex, there isto lose control and crash. Negligence or
often more than one responsible party. In anymisconduct on the part of a manufacturer or
given accident, responsible parties may include:repair facility may make them liable for your
The Driver - depending on the situation, theinjuries.