For various reasons, public transportation has become more and more popular in New Jersey. In many cases, people’s environmental concerns lead them to simply take the bus. In other cases, people take the bus because they wish to avoid congested roadways. Regardless of why we’ve seen a spike in bus use, as the rate of bus transportation increases, so does the rate of bus accidents. Bus accidents involving a variety of vehicles‚ including commuter buses‚ school buses‚ and tour buses‚ continuously make headlines for crashes causing many devastating injuries and deaths. If you or someone you love has recently been injured in a bus accident in New Jersey‚ you should contact an experienced New Jersey bus accident lawyer immediately‚ as you may qualify for compensation for your injuries. Hiring an experienced legal team like The Wilton Law Firm will help ensure that your rights are protected. Contact The Wilton Law Firm today for a free initial consultation.
Causes of New Jersey Bus Accidents
The causes of bus accidents are as varied as other motor vehicle accidents‚ and range from modest driver error to unfocused or drunk driving. However‚ a growing, concerning trend is driver fatigue.- Commercial drivers often drive long hours‚ and do not take suitable rest breaks. While there are regulations relating to the number of hours and shifts a driver takes‚ some companies do not follow them‚ or do not enforce them. In addition‚ many drivers hold additional jobs‚ and it’s impossible to know if they have gotten rest before accepting driving shifts. Drivers of tour buses often drive through the night‚ including the most dangerous hours‚ between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.‚ when the body naturally desires sleep. If you believed fatigued driving contributed to your injury‚ a qualified team of New Jersey bus accident attorneys can investigate your matter‚ and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
- The National Transportation Safety Board is pushing for new rules that would specify mandatory resting and maximum driving hours‚ and also wants to see devices installed in buses and other commercial vehicles that would help enforce the total hours an employee drives. It is likely that new rules will decrease the number of commercial bus accidents. A bus accident lawyer can determine whether the bus company and driver involved in your situation were operating according to present rules.
Other Types of Bus Accidents
While driver liability is often challenging to determine, all drivers involved in car collisions may bear some responsibility for the accident. Passengers are very rarely the cause of a crash. Therefore, they are almost certainly entitled to compensation for their injuries or damaged property, regardless of whether they were in the car with the liable driver or not. In fact, the car wherein a passenger is injured only determines which insurance carrier must pay for the passenger’s losses. That being said, bus accidents can also occur with school buses and city buses.- State school bus laws are unique in that they carry large numbers of young people, are larger vehicles, are government-owned and operated and must abide by stringent training and driving regulations. Most school buses do not have seat belts or safety restraints for children. This makes it especially dangerous to stand or move around while the bus is in motion. Other drivers on the road must also follow special laws when driving near or around school buses and are responsible for learning those laws.
- City buses and intrastate and interstate buses, such as ones traveling to Atlantic City or other areas of the state must also abide by several safety regulations. Drivers must not drive over a certain amount of hours in a 24-hour period, they must be properly trained and licensed and they must travel at slower speed limits than other drivers. There are unique laws regarding New Jersey’s city and public buses, which is why it is so important that you hire a New Jersey bus accident lawyer with knowledge in this area.
