In Bentonville, Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) is here for you to get around town in a safe, reliable, and affordable way. Even though you can get on a bus to get from one place to another, that doesn’t always mean you’re avoiding motor vehicle accidents. When you’re not driving your own car, you might think that you won’t get into a crash.
However, when you’re on a public bus, you can still get into a collision that causes injuries and other damages. When that happens, you could use the support of our Bentonville bus accident lawyer. We’ll look into what caused the crash so that we can determine who was at fault, what injuries you suffered, and how much you’re owed in damages.
Causes of Bus Accidents
Whether you were riding in an ORT bus, a school bus, or any other kind of bus travelling through North West Arkansas, and you experienced a crash, you might be wondering what led to this bus accident. Here are some of the most common causes of bus crashes in Bentonville:
- Driver fatigue. Bus drivers are in charge of a bus full of people, making their stops, and paying attention to the road. This can lead to driver fatigue that causes accidents. Other drivers on the road who aren’t driving buses can also get tired behind the wheel and cause a crash.
- Distracted driver. Bus drivers and regular drivers alike can fall victim to being distracted while driving. Whether they’re messing with the radio, eating, or on the phone, they could become distracted and not pay attention to the road.
- Aggressive driving. Aggressive driving on either side can lead to collisions. When a bus driver is aggressive, they can cause even more serious accidents because their vehicle is so much larger and heavier than other cars on the road. If the aggressive bus driver strikes a pedestrian or bicyclist, that can cause even more severe damage.
- Speeding. Speeding of any kind can be dangerous on the road. If a bus driver is speeding, it can be dangerous for other vehicles on the road, but it can also be dangerous for passengers because they can get jostled around while riding.
- Poor road conditions. Potholes, bad weather, and other poor road conditions can lead to bus accidents because the driver could lose control of the bus. Other vehicles could also have trouble controlling their vehicles and crash into the bus.
- Weight distribution. Since there will be extra people and items on the bus, there is potential for uneven weight distribution. Or if there are too many people on the bus, it could become overloaded and cause more problems.
- Defective bus part. If the bus is not properly inspected, repaired, or it has defective parts, then any of those factors could lead to an accident. If the brakes fail, a tire blows, or any other part breaks, then the bus could collide with another vehicle or person on the road.
- Untrained bus driver. Ideally, bus drivers are trained before they are sent on their route. However, that’s not always the case with drivers. Sometimes they do not receive proper training and are inexperienced behind the wheel of a bus that carries passengers.
All of these causes are preventable because they stem from negligence. If regular drivers and bus drivers alike pay attention to the road, then they could avoid colliding with each other. But unfortunately, negligent driving happens. If you’ve been injured by a negligent bus driver in Arkansas, you could use the help of a Bentonville bus accident lawyer.
Common Injuries from Bus Collisions
After an accident with a bus, you could have suffered from serious injuries. Here are some of the most common injuries our lawyers see when defending victims of bus crashes:
- Bruises
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries, like whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
On most buses, there aren’t seatbelts to hold passengers in place. Or if there are seatbelts, many people don’t use them. This means that if a bus stops suddenly or collides with another vehicle, the force could throw the passenger from their seat and cause them to suffer any of the above injuries.
For people involved in bus accidents who aren’t bus passengers, sometimes the physical damages can be even more severe. The size and weight of the bus can create a greater force when it crashes into other vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians. This could lead to serious injuries or even death.
When you’ve been struck by a bus or been involved in a bus accident as a passenger, you deserve to get justice. Our Bentonville bus accident lawyer from McMath Woods P.A. is here to support you through the legal process and ensure that your rights are protected.
Our Bentonville Bus Accident Lawyer Is Here to Help You
You shouldn’t have to suffer on your own when you’ve been injured in a crash with a bus. Our Bentonville bus accident lawyers are here to guide you through your claim so that you can get the compensation that you deserve.
At McMath Woods P.A., we’re prepared to fight for you and ensure that you don’t settle for less than you deserve. Reach out to our office today so that we can discuss your potential claim.
