Bus Driver Negligence Lawsuits in AZ

When people travel to a single location in a large group they will typically utilize a bus. Whether it is public transportation for adults, charter buses for vacationers, or school busses for children on their way to school, bus driver negligence can cause these mass transportation vehicles to crash, potentially harming or killing its innocent occupants.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 24,000 individuals were injured in bus accidents across the United States involving a total of 11,000 registered buses. Furthermore, NHTSA statistics reduce this information to 343 persons injured per every 100 million miles a bus travels, and with over 843,000 busses registered in 2008 it is no surprise that the number of injured individuals is so high.

The truck accident attorneys at Phillips Law Group believe that bus accidents which result from driver carelessness are an unnecessarily stressful experience for those who are harmed by the crash. The driver who is acting recklessly not only endangers other motorists, but more directly endangers the lives of those innocent passengers who cannot stop or change that behavior.

Our experienced legal team understands the injuries that can be sustained in an Arizona bus accident may be life threatening or permanently debilitating, or even result in death. We will always fight for the MAXIMUM amount of compensation due to the victims of Arizona bus driver negligence in order to help them recover from their injuries and serve justice to the guilty parties.

To find out how we can help, simply fill out the FREE Case Review form located on the right-hand side of this page. Your information will always remain confidential and there is never any obligation to proceed. The review is completely free.

Types of Bus Driver Negligence

Most buses do not have seatbelts, which is why accidents involving these large vehicles can be so devastating. Aside from the lack of physical safety barriers, buses are heavy and have a higher center of gravity than passenger vehicles, which can cause them to tip very easily given the right circumstances.

Bus drivers have a duty to their passengers to drive cautiously, without the influence of drugs or alcohol, and with complete attention to the road and the task at hand. When drivers fail to do even one of these things, the risk of accident and injury increases exponentially. There are many ways a driver can behave irresponsibly, however.

Some of the most common forms of bus driver negligence include:

• Cell phone use
• Disobeying traffic signs and signals
• Driver fatigue
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Exceeding speeds that are safe for conditions
• Expired license
• Improper maintenance of vehicle
• Inexperienced driver
• Multitasking while driving
• Texting while driving
• and many others.

A bus driver may be liable for a crash if any of the above factors came into play in an accident, or if a combination of those factors are found to have contributed to the accident. Bus passengers put their faith into the transportation system and the bus operator when they board, and when a driver acts negligently or fails to protect their riders from dangerous conditions that trust is unfairly breached.

Injuries Sustained in Bus Crashes

The size, shape, and stature of a bus can lend itself to increasing the severity of an accident when one occurs. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration classifies buses as vehicles that can transport 10 or more passengers, which means that nearly one dozen individuals lives are at risk in a serious bus crash.

The injuries sustained by the victims of bus driver negligence can be varied, but some of the most common include:

• Broken bones
• Death
• Deep cuts
• Fractured ribs
• Head trauma
• Passenger ejection
• Spinal trauma
• Tooth or dental trauma
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Whiplash
• Wrist injuries
• to name a few.

If a driver has not received the proper training or licensing to operate such a large vehicle, accidents are almost inevitable. In most cases, driver error is the result of distraction or inexperience behind the wheel, both of which compound the likelihood of a crash.

No matter what kind of injuries the victim of a bus accident sustains, seeking medical attention and legal representation should be the first two steps on the road to recovery. Physical and mental harm need to be treated no matter how unimportant they seem at the time, as in some cases, such as whiplash or even PTSD, the victim sustains more damage than they believe that only manifests later in life.

Call Our Arizona Bus Driver Negligence Attorneys for Help

If you or loved one has been involved in a crash because of bus driver negligence, the victim may be entitled to compensation. An experienced truck accident attorney can help you determine if you are eligible to make a claim against the negligent party who caused the collision.

At Phillips Law Group, our licensed personal injury lawyers in PHX are determined to help injury victims fight for their right to fair and just compensation. For years we have provided comprehensive legal counsel to those in the Phoenix, Arizona area; we are also proud to represent those affected by a collision in the surrounding Phoenix area including:

• Flagstaff
• Chandler
• Mesa
• Tempe
• Lake Havasu City
• and many more surrounding towns and cities.

To find out how we may be able to help you with your claim, contact us at 1-800-706-3000 . One of the competent members of our intake staff will connect you with one of our lawyers best suited in handling your claim after a few preliminary questions. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call.

If you would prefer to contact us online, simply fill out the FREE CASE REVIEW form located at the top right hand corner of this page.