Pedestrians Are in Danger While Waiting for a Bus
Most pedestrian injuries occur when a distracted driver crashes into a nearby pedestrian. The key factors in these types of accidents—the size of the vehicle, how fast it was going, and how it collided with the pedestrian—often determine whether the crash is fatal. Consequently, pedestrian accidents that involve larger vehicles, like buses, tend to have a higher fatality risk than accidents involving smaller vehicles.
Furthermore, buses interact with pedestrians. They maneuver around them after drop-offs and before pick-ups. This increases the risk that a careless bus driver may cause a pedestrian accident.
Heads Up! Here Comes the Bus
Many people have a false sense of security when they wait for a bus. It doesn’t matter the type of bus you’re waiting on, whether it be a school bus, commuter bus, city transit bus, or tour bus. As you wait, you assume that the driver is aware of the stop and knows when to slow down to pick up his passengers. You to sit or stand in the designated area without worrying or paying extra attention to your safety. The result? You and the other passengers focus on your phones or other distractions, rather than pay attention to the bus approaching you.
The majority of the time, your preoccupation will end with the bus slowly pulling up without incident. However, it only takes one regret, one moment, one mistake to cause a disaster.
Types of Bus Stop Accident Injuries
The notion that pedestrians always have the right of way, is not only misleading but also dangerous. Sure, if a pedestrian is in the road, drivers have a responsibility to try not to hit them. Unfortunately, “try” and “succeed” are two very different things. Over 100,000 pedestrian accidents a year occur in the United States, injuring or killing close to 70,000 innocent bystanders. According to a 2013 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Texas is the third-highest ranked state for pedestrian accident fatalities (California and Florida were ranked first and second).
In addition to swerving into bystanders, bus drivers can also misjudge stopping distances, fail to see pedestrians in their blind spots (front, behind, and on the sides of the vehicle), and miscalculate distances needed to turn. Any of these errors can be deadly to a pedestrian. Furthermore, as you stand at the roadside patiently waiting for your ride, other vehicles can also collide into you.
When a driver’s negligence results in a loss of control in the operation of his vehicle, serious injuries can occur—injuries such as:
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries. When a bus driver loses control and swerves into a pedestrian, the force of the collision can cause severe head trauma, lacerations, contusions, and fractures. The impact can also cause the pedestrian to be thrown away from the bus and land on his head, resulting in additional head trauma.
- Back, neck, and spine injuries. The force of a collision can range anywhere from a simple tap to thousands of pounds of pressure. Whiplash, the most common neck injury, can occur from the slightest amount of force, while a direct collision with the back, hips, or shoulders can result in permanent spinal cord damage or bone and muscle trauma.
- Broken bones and internal injuries. Again, the excessive force of a bus collision to the fragile frame of a pedestrian can cause extensive crush injuries, broken bones, internal bleeding, and organ damage.
Next Stop: Litigation
If a vehicle hit you while you were waiting for the bus, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. Schedule your FREE, no-obligation review with personal injury attorney Steve Lee to discuss your options. In addition to filing a claim against the driver, you may be eligible to hold the bus company, outside contractors, and the bus manufacturer liable for your trauma—Call us today to get the experienced advice and information you deserve!