Bus Accidents

Buses are a common method of transportation throughout southern California.  Unfortunately, buses generally lack many of the safety features of private automobiles, and many don't even have seat belts.  This means that if you are an occupant of a bus that is involved in an accident, you are likely to suffer serious injury, even if the impact is not high speed.   Being struck by a bus while in a private automobile also frequently leads to serious injury due to the larger size of buses and the force they create in a collision.  Here are some general statistics regarding bus accidents:

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Bus Accident Statistics

• In 2020, more than 100,000 buses were registered in the state of California

• According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 176 bus accident fatalities in 2020.

• Of the 176 bus accident fatalities recorded in 2020, accidents involving school buses and transport buses accounted for 131 of those deaths.

• For the period between 2011 - 2020, the National Safety Council has reported that 70% of individuals killed in school bus crashes were occupants of another vehicle involved in the crash and 16% were pedestrians.

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Common Causes of Bus Accidents

Due to the serious potential consequences of any accident involving a bus, it is important to know the most common causes.  These are:

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• Distracted driving - since a lot is happening on a bus, it is easy for the driver to become distracted with passengers, events occurring on the bus, collecting payment and more.  All of this can lead to an accident.

• Tired Driving - bus drivers often work for several hours at a time, and many bus trips are long and tedious.  This creates a strong potential for driver fatigue, which is a leading cause of bus accidents.

• Faulty Maintenance - Buses are often drive thousands of miles every month.  This creates significant maintenance obligations, which if deferred, can cause mechanical failures that result in accidents.

• Weather - buses are large and difficulty to maneuver, making them particularly susceptible to accidents caused by inclement weather such as rain, snow and ice.

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Even when all precautions are taken, sometimes simple mistakes occur, leading to bus accidents with potentially devastating consequences.  If you or a loved one has been injured in a buss accident, contact Phillips & Associates today. We offer free consultations and respond 24/7.  Call (858) 925-7184.

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