When buses collide with other vehicles or objects, passengers face serious injuries due to the lack of seatbelts and the forces involved in large vehicle crashes. Multiple parties may be liable when bus collisions occur, including bus drivers, other motorists, and transit companies.
Types of Bus Collisions
Bus collision accidents take several forms:
Rear-end collisions: Buses striking vehicles ahead or being struck from behind.
Side-impact crashes: T-bone accidents at intersections.
Head-on collisions: Frontal crashes with oncoming vehicles.
Sideswipe accidents: Contact while changing lanes or passing.
Fixed object collisions: Buses striking poles, barriers, buildings, or other objects.
Why Bus Collision Injuries Are Severe
Several factors make bus collisions particularly dangerous for passengers:
No passenger seatbelts: Most transit buses lack seatbelts, leaving passengers unrestrained during impacts.
Standing passengers: Unrestrained standing passengers are thrown during collisions.
Hard interior surfaces: Metal poles, hard seats, and windows cause secondary impact injuries.
Large vehicle forces: Bus mass and speed create significant collision energy.
Multiple victims: A single collision can injure many passengers simultaneously.
Determining Liability
Bus collision liability depends on fault for the accident:
Bus driver at fault: Negligent driving by the bus operator makes the transit company liable.
Other driver at fault: When another vehicle causes the collision, that driver's insurance applies.
Shared fault: Both drivers may share responsibility, allowing claims against multiple parties.
Third parties: Road design, traffic signals, or vehicle defects may implicate additional defendants.
Evidence in Bus Collision Cases
Important evidence includes:
Police accident reports: Official documentation of the crash and initial fault determination.
Bus video and data: Onboard cameras and event data recorders showing speed, braking, and impact.
Witness statements: Passengers and bystanders who saw the collision.
Traffic camera footage: External cameras may have captured the accident.
Vehicle damage patterns: Physical evidence showing how the collision occurred.
Passenger Rights After Collisions
Bus passengers have strong legal positions after collisions:
No fault assignment: Passengers are virtually never at fault for collision injuries.
Multiple coverage sources: Bus company insurance, other driver's insurance, and personal coverage may all apply.
Common carrier duty: Bus companies owe passengers heightened protection.
Filing Collision Claims
After a bus collision, seek medical attention, document the scene and your injuries, get information from the bus driver and any other involved vehicles, and file claims against all potentially liable parties. Government transit deadlines apply to claims against public bus systems.