Why Bus Accidents Are Actually More Catastrophic Than Passenger Car Accidents

For some residents of Philadelphia, a bus is the only means of transportation to get to work and then return home. Others, meanwhile, resort to buses very rarely because they have their own car. But either way, bus accidents can be much more destructive and catastrophic than accidents involving passenger cars.

Bizarrely, these two groups of people are at a high risk of injury and even death. And our bus accident lawyer from the Dan Doyle Law Group is going to explain why.

Why people think buses are safe

Hundreds of Americans are killed in bus accidents all across the United States each year. And more than 22,000 others get injured every year. This means a bus is not exactly the safest mode of transportation out there, contrary to the popular belief.

Generally, there are two reasons why people in Philadelphia and all across Pennsylvania tend to believe that buses are safe. These two reasons are:

1. It is not that easy to obtain a bus driver’s license, and one has to comply with strict licensing standards, complete rigorous training, and pass tests in order to be legally allowed to drive dozens of people at once.
2. Buses are much higher off the ground than the vast majority of passenger cars. It makes them less vulnerable to collisions on the road.

While it is true that bus drivers are legally required to take every possible safety precaution in order to protect dozens of their passengers, it is not uncommon for bus drivers to operate their large vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Also, those strict procedures to obtain a bus driver’s license do not change the fact that many bus drivers can neglect the rules and violate traffic rules in order to deliver passengers from point A to point B faster and earn more money as a result.

And while you may be safer inside the bus, as a passenger, if there is a bus accident, those outside the bus, drivers of smaller vehicles and their passengers as well as pedestrians, are at risk of catastrophic injuries due to the large size of buses.

Which buses are more likely to crash?

Statistics of bus accidents in the U.S. shows that younger (under 25) and older (over 55) bus drivers are more likely to violate traffic rules and cause bus accidents in Philadelphia and all across Pennsylvania. Also, statistics show that female bus drivers are more likely to crash than males, while intersections of the road with very low or high-speed limits are the most hazardous areas for bus accidents.

Let’s also keep in mind that buses have longer starting and stopping distances compared to smaller vehicles, which significantly increases the risk of fender-benders and other types of bus accidents.

Our Philadelphia bus accident lawyer also noted that like trucks, buses are more likely to roll over in case of a collision, which increases the risk of severe injuries and even death. Also, buses are full of objects that can get loose and become projectiles in accidents.

Not to mention that when bus accidents occur, it affects more people (bus drivers, passengers in the bus, drivers and passengers of the other vehicle involved in the collision) compared to regular car accidents involving two passenger cars.

Finally, buses pose the greatest danger to pedestrians, including those waiting on the bus at bus stops. Our Philadelphia bus accident attorney says that pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists are more likely to be killed in bus accidents compared to bus passengers and drivers of smaller vehicles involved in collisions with buses.

Do not underestimate the dangers posed by buses in Philadelphia or elsewhere in Pennsylvania. Just because a bus driver spent months or even years to obtain his or her driving license does not necessarily mean that the police and courts will blame you for the accident in 100 percent of all cases.

If you have been injured in a bus accident, do not hesitate to hire a personal injury lawyer from the Dan Doyle Law Group, as many police officers, juries, judges and insurance company agents can refuse to believe you because they are guided by the common cliché that bus drivers always know what they are doing on the road. Contact our law firm to get a free consultation. Call at 215-987-3730 or complete this contact form.