The ABCs of Buses
Buses and other mass transportation vehicles pose unique dangers on the roadways and for passengers.
With an estimated 1 million registered buses on the roads across the US, bus accident liability is largely misunderstood. Unlike maritime law and other mass forms of transportation, busing still follows a completely antiquated regulatory policy – Meaning if tragedy strikes, there is very little compensation to be had.
Buses pose a unique set of dangers as a result of many factors;
- Employee and driver accountability
- Roadside and traffic hazards
- Equipment failure
- Weather and outside factors
As a bus passenger, not only are you trusting your driver to be qualified and the operating company to maintain their vehicles properly, you also have to trust every other driver on the road! A large bus cannot make agile maneuvers like a car can, so inclement weather or reacting to other cars can lead to devastating consequences.
Coverage for Bus Accident Victims Completely Inadequate
As a bus passenger, you may be inclined to think your safety is all but guaranteed and in the event of an accident insurance coverage is ample. This is not the case.
Bus carriers are only required to have a very limited amount of coverage in the event of an accident and liability claim. The law goes back to 1982, during the Reagan administration. The $5 million dollar standard is simply inadequate considering the likelihood multiple individuals were injured or died. $5 million dollars may not even be sufficient to cover 1 badly injured passenger!
The Standard Needs to Change
For any other form of public transportation, including rail systems, planes, the standard of coverage is much higher.
In 2014, when the FMCSA petitioned Congress for a raise, the coverage was expected to jump from a $5 million minimum to $20 million. That is a big difference!
While instances of bus accidents resulting on injury or death are not widespread, it is still critical that the standard is sufficient.
If you or a loved one was injured in a bus accident, or tragically lost their life, you must call me immediately. Together we can hold the responsible parties accountable, and enact change in our society.
I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities. You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 877.944.4373.
