Common Causes of NY Bus Accidents 

New Yorkers use buses for transportation in a variety of ways, including covering short distances as well as long-distance travel across the state and throughout the country. Unfortunately, when bus accidents occur, individuals involved can sustain significant injuries. Here, we want to review some of the most common causes of bus accidents in Buffalo.

How These Incidents Occur

Bus accidents can occur due to a wide variety of reasons, often due to the careless or negligent actions of a NY bus driver or bus carrier. However, these incidents can also happen due to the negligence of other drivers or third parties on the roadway. It has been quite some time since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted a comprehensive study of the common causes of bus accidents, but their findings from previous studies do apply two common causes of these incidents today:

1. Driver error. Driver error is a leading cause of bus accidents in New York and throughout the US. These errors can include actions such as driving too fast for conditions, failing to yield the right of way, operating while distracted, operating while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and more. Additionally, overworked drivers often become fatigued, particularly if they do not closely follow the federal hours of service requirements.
2. Vehicle maintenance issues. Bus carriers are required to regularly inspect the vehicles in their fleet and provide regular maintenance in order to ensure the vehicle is safe for the roadway.
3. Road conditions. Poorly maintained roads, construction zones, inadequate signage, and problematic road designs can contribute to bus accidents. In these situations, other parties, such as construction companies or municipalities, could hold liability for the bus accident.
4. Other vehicles. Collisions with other vehicles are often caused by the other drivers’ errors, such as failing to yield, reckless driving, or not keeping a safe distance from the bus. If another driver is responsible for causing a bus crash, even partially, this can complicate the process of determining fault.
5. Passenger actions. Interference or distractions caused by passengers can also lead to accidents.
6. Operational practices. The policies and practices of bus companies, including inadequate driver training, excessive hours of operation, and pressure to adhere to tight schedules, can contribute to accidents.
7. Equipment failure. Apart from maintenance issues, inherent defects in the bus’s equipment or failure of safety-critical systems can lead to accidents.
8. Weather conditions. Bad weather conditions like rain, snow, ice, and fog can significantly increase the risk of bus accidents by affecting visibility and road traction.

What Happens After a Bus Accident Occurs?

After a bus accident occurs, we encourage injury and property damage victims to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. A Buffalo accident lawyer can help you understand the situation and the best routes moving forward for recovering compensation. Bus accident claims are complicated, but it is worth pursuing compensation when you have medical bills and other expenses caused by the negligence of another party.