In metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, buses are a common sight. As they operate on most city and county roads, even people who never ride a bus will encounter one while driving in their own passenger vehicle. Plus, people of all ages use buses regularly for transportation to and from work, school or social events.
Bus riders have the expectation that they will make their trip safely. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In 2019, 277 people were killed and more than 3,900 people were injured in crashes involving a large truck or bus in California. If you are in a bus crash, you’ll want to know where to find a quality Los Angeles bus accident lawyer to help you determine the next steps.
How Many Bus Accidents Happen Each Year?
Recent bus accident statistics show that there are an average of 60,000 bus accidents each year in the United States. Too often, these are fatal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that in 2018, there were 5,096 buses and large trucks involved in fatal accidents, an increase from previous years. California had the second highest rate of fatal bus crashes behind New York. However, this isn’t surprising given the high population of the state.
With more people traveling on them, California roads tend to be more congested than other places resulting in more accidents. For example, Anaheim averages 5,004 auto accidents a year, including passenger vehicles and buses. This makes it critical to know where to find a qualified Anaheim bus accident lawyer. Big cities and tourist areas like Los Angeles are at an increased risk for bus accidents.
What Causes a City Bus Crash?
Any bus accident attorney in Los Angeles will tell you, many bus accidents occur due to the driver seat being perched above traffic. While this high vantage point sounds beneficial, it often causes the bus driver to not be fully aware of what is happening around them.
Some other common causes of a bus accident include:
- Bus company or bus driver negligence
- Poor weather and road conditions
- Blind spots
- Defective bus manufacturing
- Poor bus maintenance
- Accidents caused by other drivers
What Are the Most Common Bus Accident Injuries?
While passenger vehicle car crashes are still more common, bus accidents carry a higher risk of resulting in serious and life-changing injuries. This isn’t just for bus passengers, but for any pedestrians, cyclists or passengers of other vehicles involved.
The most common bus injury is lacerations and cuts. Since buses have multiple glass windows, metal benches and poles, passengers are at an increased risk of being cut by glass and debris. This can cause blood loss, tissue damage, permanent scarring and potential infection.
Other common bus accident injuries include:
- Head and spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
What Happens When a Bus Gets in an Accident?
Whether it’s a city bus, school bus or shuttle, bus riders are entrusting their safety to the bus driver and owner of the bus. Likewise, people drive their vehicles on the road under the belief that buses are being carefully and properly operated. If an accident occurs, you’ll want to contact a lawyer to determine if a bus injury claim is necessary.
If you or a loved one are involved in a bus accident, here are the steps to take immediately following the crash:
- Call 911 and seek necessary medical attention
- Gather any evidence (pictures, names/numbers of witnesses, etc.)
- Collect bus driver’s information, including the name of the operating company
- Contact a bus crash lawyer
As the top personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles, the team at Avrek is ready to help you navigate the claims process to receive the maximum compensation you deserve. Avrek Law has more than 50 years of combined experience resolving cases in favor of clients who were wrongfully injured, and has recovered more than $1 billion in compensation for injury victims in over 45,000 cases. Contact us for your free consultation to learn more!
