Bus doors that close on passengers can cause serious crushing injuries, particularly to hands, arms, and legs. Door-related injuries often result from driver negligence in operating doors without verifying passengers have safely boarded or exited.
Types of Bus Door Injuries
Door-related injuries occur in several ways:
Closing on boarding passengers: Doors shut while passengers are stepping onto the bus.
Closing on exiting passengers: Doors close before passengers have fully exited.
Dragging incidents: Passengers caught in doors are dragged when the bus moves.
Trapping injuries: Limbs or clothing caught in doors causing crushing or amputation injuries.
Fall injuries: Passengers knocked down by closing doors then injured in the fall.
Common Injuries from Door Incidents
Bus door injuries can be severe:
Crushing injuries to hands, fingers, arms, and legs.
Fractures from door impact or resulting falls.
Amputation in severe cases where doors completely close on limbs.
Soft tissue damage including contusions, lacerations, and nerve damage.
Head injuries when passengers are knocked down by doors.
Proving Driver Negligence
Door injury claims typically focus on driver failure to:
Check mirrors and cameras before closing doors to ensure passengers are clear.
Wait adequate time for passengers to safely board or exit.
Respond to warnings: Many buses have sensors that alert when objects are in the doorway.
Follow procedures: Transit companies have protocols for safe door operation.
Remain stationary: Moving the bus before doors are fully closed and passengers secured.
Defective Door Claims
Sometimes door injuries result from equipment problems rather than driver error:
Sensor failures: Safety sensors that should prevent doors from closing on objects malfunction.
Excessive closing force: Doors designed or adjusted to close with dangerous pressure.
Rapid closing speed: Doors that close faster than passengers can react.
Maintenance failures: Door mechanisms not properly maintained or repaired.
These claims may target the bus manufacturer or maintenance providers in addition to the transit company.
Evidence in Door Injury Cases
Build your claim with:
Video footage: Bus cameras often capture door operations and passenger movements.
Witness statements: Other passengers and bystanders can verify what happened.
Maintenance records: Documentation of door system inspections and repairs.
Driver training records: Evidence of proper instruction on door safety procedures.
Medical documentation: Records showing injuries consistent with door impact.
Pursuing Your Claim
Report the incident immediately, photograph any visible injuries, get witness contacts, and consult an attorney promptly—especially for government-operated buses where notice deadlines are strict.