Bus accidents occur more frequently than most Ohioans believe. In fact, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, there were approximately 3,600 accidents on Ohio’s roadways in 2015 involving commercial buses, school buses, and large vans. Over 20 percent of those accidents resulted in serious injuries or death. It is likely that the size and weight of these large vehicles makes them more difficult to control.Large buses can weigh over 50,000 pounds, making attempts at stopping, yielding, and merging more difficult than in a typical car weighing approximately 4,000 pounds.

Compounding that, bus passengers are not generally required to wear protective seatbelts or even stay seated when the bus is moving. Experienced personal injury attorneys have seen that making the slightest of movements are more dangerous than driving in a car. If you have been involved in a bus accident, contact a Tiffin bus accident lawyer to find out if you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Common Bus Accident Causes

Bus accidents occur for a variety of reasons, some foreseen and others unforeseen. While every accident is unique and depends on the facts and circumstances of the situation, the most common bus accident causes tend to involve:

  • Defective vehicle parts or equipment
  • Distracted driving (including texting, phone use, or simply not paying attention to the road or surroundings)
  • Driver fatigue
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Inexperienced or inadequately trained drivers
  • Overloading
  • Poor bus maintenance (bald tires, faulty brakes)
  • Poor road maintenance
  • Reckless driving behavior
  • rollovers
  • Speeding
  • Weather-related conditions

Dealing with Insurance Companies

It is important to note that people other than the driver can be attributed to a bus company (or their maintenance contractors), a government entity responsible for road safety, or a public entity in the case of a city bus, van, or other large vehicles. While victims may have access to several defendants to compensate them for their injuries, it also means that they may be up against several insurance companies who are trying to settle the matter for less than victims may be entitled to.

This is especially true when dealing with large bus companies such as Greyhound, Peter Pan, Megabus, Bolt Bus, Coach USA and others who likely have teams of attorneys at their disposal. The assistance of an experienced Tiffin bus accident lawyer can help even those odds, and increase the chances of a lawsuit’s success.

Hiring a Tiffin Bus Accident Lawyer

Due to the severity of bus accidents, victims may incur costly medical expenses, lose time from work, experience chronic pain and suffering, and need physical therapy or emotional counseling. Whatever the injury, make sure to contact an experienced Tiffin bus accident lawyer to discuss your situation and injuries, determine your rights and whether you might be entitled to compensation, and decide what is in your best interests.

Keep in mind that the statute of limitations to file a bus accident lawsuit in Ohio is only two years, and sometimes far less when dealing with a governmental agency. The bottom line is that time is of the essence. Even if you are unsure as to whether you have a legal action against a bus driver, bus company or agency, it is smart to contact an attorney sooner rather than later.

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