Hundreds of people, including students, churchgoers, etc., ride buses across the US daily, including the bustling state of Georgia. Unfortunately, this also means that bus accidents are bound to happen. In 2015 alone, the state recorded a total of 182 deaths from accidents involving large vehicles, which obviously included buses. But that’s not all: 134 out of the total 161 traffic crashes involved multiple vehicles at once. 

Many different factors can cause bus accidents, but it always ends the same way: victims and their loved ones left to pick up the pieces. Fortunately, compensation and justice is possible if they suffer severe injuries or lose a loved one in such an accident. This is why one of the most important steps after a bus accident is to hire a qualified bus accident lawyer.

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, your lawyer may be able to establish negligence on the parts of the bus operator, bus company, other road users, or vehicle parts manufacturer and win you the settlement or award you deserve. Of course, negligence and faulty/defective vehicle parts aren’t the only potential causes of bus accidents. But data shows these factors are involved in over half of all bus accidents. Here is a detailed look at the common causes of bus accidents in Georgia and their legal implications.

Bus Operator Negligence

Vehicle operators must care for themselves, their passengers, and other road users. Road traffic involves many moving parts, and a small error can lead to catastrophic consequences.

Some of the most common examples of bus operator negligence include driving under the influence, driving while fatigued, driving while on the phone, tailgating, speeding, blowing traffic signals, and changing lanes without paying attention to incoming traffic. 

That said, bus driver negligence can be argued to be a breach of care to passengers, pedestrians, or other motorists. If you can find witnesses and evidence to show disregard for safety on the part of the vehicle operator, you will likely obtain compensation.

Bus Company Carelessness

Multiple individuals could be at fault for your bus accident. Indeed, while the vehicle operator may cause the accident, the bus driver could be blamed if they employed an unqualified driver, forced them to operate while exhausted, or failed to repair and keep their buses in good condition.

Suppose you suspect a bus company to be responsible for your accident. In that case, experts can help inspect the bus company’s hiring practices and vehicles for imperfections and build a strong case.

Other Motorists’ Negligence

In other situations, you may get into a bus accident due to the actions of the other motorists on the road. For example, they may be speeding, blowing traffic signals, using their phones, tailgating, acting aggressively, changing lanes without care, or driving while intoxicated.

Road rage can be especially dangerous. Drivers are likely to cause accidents if they act aggressively on the road. Third-party witnesses, accident scene reconstruction experts, and police reports can help establish events leading up to your bus accident, showing the individual(s) at fault. Of course, negligence is a breach of care, whether by the bus driver or other motorists on the road.

Bus Defects

Under Georgia law, bus and bus parts manufacturers are strictly liable for design or manufacturing defects. That means you can bring a case against a manufacturer if you get into a bus accident because of their defective bus product, be it a failing seatbelt, defective light, failing breaks, etc.

Of course, suing a bus part manufacturer is tough. They retain aggressive lawyers and will try to blame the bus company and driver. However, an experienced bus accident attorney knows how to leverage evidence, including expert witnesses’ findings and opinions, to show negligence on the part of the bus part manufacturer.

To summarize, bus accidents can be caused by literally anything. The at-fault part could be one or more of the following: bus driver, bus company, other drivers, or vehicle part manufacturer. Usually, cases involving bus companies and bus parts manufacturers pay higher compensation.  But you can’t just sue a bus company or manufacturer because you want a bigger settlement/award. You must be ready to meet the burden of proof–otherwise, you will waste your time and money. In any case, an experienced bus accident lawyer can help you learn your legal alternatives and merits.