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ROB LEVINE, THE BUS ACCIDENT LAWYER
INJURED? CALL THE BUS ACCIDENT LAWYER NOW FOR A FREE CASE EVALUATION - NO FEES UNTIL YOU WIN
Riding the bus is one of the easiest ways to travel around town or between states in New England. This form of public transportation is more eco-friendly than driving, is generally less expensive and lets passengers focus on other tasks during their commute.
Yet, while buses are convenient, they are not always safe. A factsheet provided by the Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety claims that 19 people die and 7,887 are injured in bus crashes each year per statistics offered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 1999 to 2008. Furthermore, a special report conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board reports that buses have a higher likelihood of fatal accident involvement per registered vehicle. The University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute reported that 83% of bus drivers were not engaging in dangerous driving behavior, implying that these types of accidents can happen without warning and are often caused by other drivers on the road.
Sadly, some bus accidents may lead to serious injuries or death, but if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a bus crash, bus accident lawyers at Rob Levine & Associates can help you determine who was liable and what you can do to recover due payment. We are familiar with applicable laws in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts and will work with you to present a valid claim for damages.
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Of course, there is no one single cause of all bus crashes, because each accident may be the result of different factors. The following is a list of components that may contribute to a bus accident:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver distraction due to electronics, food or even unruly passengers on the bus
- Faulty bus parts
- Aggressive driving or road rage, either on the part of the bus driver or another driver on the road
- Lack of driver experience behind the wheel of a bus
- Driver intoxication due to drugs or alcohol
The presence of any or all of these factors can cause a serious accident. Identifying what caused or contributed to the accident is vital to establishing liability.
If are a passenger on a bus and find yourself involved in a bus accident, the most important thing to prove that you were on the bus at the time of the accident.
- Retain a copy of your receipt, showing the bus number, date and time in which you boarded the bus
- The driver of the bus, or a supervisor who comes to the scene, is required to make a list of all the passengers on the bus. Ensure that your name is on the list and take a picture of the list including a picture of the driver for your records.
The bus accident lawyers at Rob Levine & Associates can help you collect evidence and investigate the crash.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COMMON CARRIERS
In the realm of bus accidents, a doctrine of common carrier liability comes into play. This doctrine, while varying across state lines, ultimately states that common carriers, such as buses and other forms of public transportation, must adhere to a duty of care during operation. Failure to uphold this standard of care may place liability directly on the bus company. The bus company also may be liable if it allowed an inexperienced driver to operate the bus or if an intoxicated driver caused an accident.
A private bus company or a government agency responsible for the bus may be liable. In the latter case, government liability laws will come into play, which can vary depending on the location of the accident or where you boarded the bus in Rhode Island, Connecticut, or Massachusetts.
If the bus crash was due to defective parts, liability instead may be placed on the manufacturer. Because of the complexity of these issues, it is important to speak with a bus accident attorney who can help.
AN EXPERIENCED BUS ACCIDENT ATTORNEY CAN HELP
At Rob Levine & Associates, we understand how traumatic it can be to be involved in a bus crash. We also realize how important it is to file a timely claim in order to recover compensation and to gather all necessary evidence in order to strengthen your claim.
Please contact us today for help if you’re in Providence, Boston, Fall River, Hartford, or New Haven. While you are focused on recovering from your injuries or grieving the loss of a loved one, our bus accident lawyers will be working diligently to recover due payment. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.
Injury or accident case
- Dial 911 and report the accident. Let them know if there are any injuries and always request a rescue if you are injured.
- Never move your vehicle prior to the police arriving.
- If you are able to exit your vehicle, take pictures of the accident scene from a distance so that you can see all of the vehicles involved and all of the vehicles in one picture. Then take close-up pictures of each vehicle involved. Make sure to include the damage, license plate of the vehicle, and a picture of the driver.
- If there is a witness to the accident, ask them to wait for the police to arrive so they can give a statement. If they cannot wait, ask if you can take a picture of their identification and then include a picture of them holding their identification that you can read.
- Once the police arrive, make a statement as to how the accident occurred. Ensure that the police talk to the witness and takes their statement as well. If the witness left prior to the police arrival, show the police officer a picture of the witness and their identification, making sure that, on the police report, they are noted as a witness that had to leave before his arrival.
- If you are injured, never refuse medical treatment by rescue personnel. Be transported by rescue to the nearest hospital to get medical treatment.
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- You and the other driver can agree to follow each other and meet at the police department to make a report.
- If you are not going to meet at the police department to make a report, you should exchange the following information to include a copy of their license, motor vehicle registration, insurance card, a picture of their license plate, and a picture of the other driver. Remember, you should have documented photos of the scene of the accident and damages to vehicles as well.
- If you are involved in a bus accident and you are injured, make sure either you or someone else has dialed 911 to request a rescue as well as the police to document the accident.
- The bus driver should be creating a list of all the passengers on the bus at the time of the accident. Ensure that your name is written on the list, then take a picture of the list and the bus driver holding the list.
- Ensure you receive a receipt showing proof that you were on the bus. Take a picture of the receipt to preserve it.
- Take pictures of the damage to the bus, any vehicles involved in the accident, and/or any items damaged, i.e., a tree.
- If you are injured, do not refuse medical attention. Be transported by rescue to the nearest or most appropriate hospital for treatment.
Injury or accident case
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