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Injured in a Bus Accident? Save time in finding the right Pittsburgh Lawyer, we've already done the work for you! You should consult an Attorney soon after an accident to ensure that your legal interests are protected. If you sign any documents before consulting with a Lawyer, you may be signing away your rights to fair and just compensation. Legal representation is essential if you have been injured in an accident, and the sooner you obtain legal counsel, the better. That Attorney can protect your rights, and advise you as to the proper course of action. Dealing with an Insurance Company that does not have your best interests at heart can be a serious undertaking, hence the need for a quality Bus Accident Attorney. Our featured Bus Accident Lawyer is listed below.
Buses are generally thought to be a safe method of
travel; after all, they are significantly larger than other
vehicles on the road and many buses do not even come
equipped with seat belts. A study by the National Bus Safety
Council between the years 1987 and 1996 found 4.3 bus rider
fatalities per year compared to 44,000 passenger vehicle
fatalities over the same time frame. However, buses are
involved in an alarming number of crashes, many of which
prove fatal. In the last week, school bus accidents causing
injury have occurred in Massachusetts, New York, Michigan
and Wisconsin. Public transportation buses also frequently
are involved in accidents leading to injury and death; a
Washington, D.C. woman recently was hit and killed by a
Metro bus, becoming the fifth fatality in eight months in
the D.C. area from bus accidents. Accidents involving school
children have prompted many school districts to re-outfit
school buses with seat belts, even though many states still
do not require school buses to have seat belts. Data from
the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the Motor
Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) reveals that
5,212 deaths in 2005 were caused by crashes involving large
trucks and that 91,824 injuries were a result of crashes
involving large trucks.
Finding Blame in Bus Accidents?
Bus drivers must be extremely qualified and well-trained as
they are responsible for large numbers of people and keeping
control of an unwieldy vehicle. A bus driver can be held
responsible for initiating an accident. However, bus
accident lawsuits are not always clear because state and
federal laws differ in who they say is at fault for such
accidents. "Common carriers" are defined as being someone
whose business is transporting people or material items from
one place to another for compensation; such services
typically are open to the public. Common carriers, which
include commercial bus companies, are governed federally and
by most state governments, and the drivers of these vehicles
are required to have adequate training and equipment to
complete their duties. As a consequence of this, the
performance of bus drivers are held to exacting standards
and they can be found to be accountable in bus accidents.
However, the involvement of insurance companies and
contractors in accident legal proceedings make questions of
who is at fault much more complex. Because state governments
are involved in establishing their own common carrier
regulation, bus accident litigation action can vary widely
from state to state. Finding an experienced lawyer who is
familiar with the common carrier laws of the area in which
the accident took place and insurance policies regarding bus
accidents is highly advisable.
What Should Be Done in the Event of a Bus Accident?
- If no law enforcement is present at the scene, immediately
file an accident report with the police, sheriff, or highway
patrol.
- Be sure to record the name, address, insurance
information, vehicle license number, and driver's license
number of everyone who was involved in the accident. Also be
sure to obtain contact information and full names of any
witnesses.
- Take pictures
of all vehicles involved in the accidents, any injuries sustained in
the accident, and the accident scene.
- Do not discuss the accident or any injuries you suffered with
anyone other than your doctor or lawyer.
- Do not agree to making a recorded statement or sign any document
that you have not first reviewed with your lawyer.
- Immediately seek medical treatment and be sure to tell your doctor
how your injury occurred and about any pain from which you may be
suffering.
Should I Contact an Auto Accident Lawyer?
Having the guidance of a professional bus or auto accident lawyer
can be advantageous in the case of a bus accident. If you or someone
you know has been injured in a bus accident and believe someone else
may be at fault, use the auto accident attorney information request
form on this page to get in touch with an expert auto accident
attorney or law firm in your area today!
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