North Carolina Law Firm Stands Up for Those Injured in Bus Accidents
Charlotte Personal Injury Attorneys Pursue Maximum Damages for Clients
Many people sustain serious injuries in collisions that occur while they are riding on, boarding, disembarking from, or traveling near buses. There are typically four ways a person can be injured in an accident involving a bus. These include:
As an occupant of the bus (passenger or driver)
As a rider who is boarding or disembarking the bus
As a pedestrian or bicyclist who is struck by a bus
As a motorist who collides with a bus
In North Carolina, tens of thousands of people use buses to commute to work, school, and other places every day. If you or someone you love was involved in a collision involving a bus, you could be eligible to receive monetary damages for your accident-related injuries. The bus accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Estwanik & May will work hard to help ensure that you are awarded fair compensation.
Causes of Bus Accidents
According to data compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there was a 34 percent decrease in the number of fatal accidents involving buses between 2005 and 2009, followed by a 47 percent increase between 2009 and 2019. Some of the most common causes of accidents involving buses include:
Speeding
Driver distraction/inattention
Driver impairment (fatigue, alcohol, drugs)
Lack of proper driver training
Failure to obey traffic signals
Equipment defects
Poor weather or road conditions
Improper vehicle maintenance
Liability for Bus Accidents
Buses are common carriers, meaning vehicles that are designed to transport people or goods. Tour buses, school buses, and most commercial buses fit into this category. Because common carriers transport goods and people, they are required to exercise a higher degree of care to avoid injury and often have lower thresholds for liability. Bus drivers, employers, manufacturers, and third-party contractors responsible for supplying bus parts or hiring bus drivers can all be held responsible for an accident. If another vehicle caused the accident to occur, that driver might be liable. If the bus belongs to the state, a claim can be filed with the North Carolina Industrial Commission. An experienced North Carolina bus accident attorney can help determine and prove liability in accident cases, which are often extremely challenging and complex in nature.
Contact an Experienced North Carolina Bus Accident Attorney
Dealing with the injuries sustained in a bus accident can be very difficult, but you don’t have to go it alone. If you were seriously injured in a North Carolina bus accident, contact the Law Offices of Estwanik and May PLLC at 704-817-2004 to schedule your free initial consultation and discuss your options with a skilled personal injury attorney today.