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Most of us do not consider bus accidents or bus accident statistics until there is a high-profile crash on television. However, government agencies, as well as other entities, have been compiling data on bus crashes for several years. Some of the statistics may surprise you (note these statistics included school buses, tour buses, and all other types of motorcoaches):
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in 2012 reported that over 700 million passengers use buses annually. While the vast majority of these individuals traveled without incident, 250 passengers were killed in 2009 and 20,000 were injured in bus accident that same year. Between 2000 and 2007, the NTSB reported that bus accidents were to blame for 1,315 fatalities and nearly 3,500 injuries (these numbers included passengers on the bus as well as pedestrians and other motorists).
- The Journal of Safety Research in 2012 conducted a study noting that young bus drivers increase the risk that a bus crash will be severe as does a driver of the age of 55 years. A bus driver who is 65 years of age or older has the highest risk of being involved in a severe accident. The study also found that in over 80% of bus accidents the bus driver was not engaged in risky driving behaviors and that below 5% of bus drivers involved in accidents are charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, or other serious offenses.
- A 2010 study from the University of Michigan found that, on average, about 63,000 buses of all types are involved in bus accidents. About 14,000 of these resulted in injury to a person and 325 resulted in at least one death. Furthermore, the study found that about 50 bus passengers are killed (including the driver of the bus) in any given year. Inter-city buses and charter buses have a higher chance of being involved in an accident, with charter buses having a significantly higher probability of experiencing “driver error.”
- The NTSB conducted a study in 2011, which found that, during 2009, the bus occupant fatality rate equaled 45 deaths per 100,000 accidents. This is far less than the rate for passenger car occupants: 251 deaths per 100,000 accidents. Between 2005 and 2010, there was an average annual total of 1,003 bus accidents: 32 of these were fatal and resulted in 44 deaths. Five hundred and five of these were nonfatal accidents that resulted in injury only and 467 accidents only involved damage to property.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationWhat Do the Statistics Tell Us?
While the above statistics do support the conclusion that it is far more likely you will be killed in a car crash as opposed to a bus accident, there are some troubling trends in the statistics as well:
- Bus accidents occur each year with some degree of regularity;
- A bus driver’s age plays a significant role in determining not only your risk of being involved in a bus accident but also correlates to how severe the accident will be;
- Bus accidents are to blame for a number of deaths and injuries not only to bus passengers but also others that use the roadways.
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationContact Zinda Law Group for Help
At Zinda Law Group, we cannot say that these statistics surprise us all that much. We have been helping injury victims who were involved in bus accidents for years and know how serious these events can be. We dedicate ourselves to zealously and aggressively representing our clients’ interests after they have been involved in a bus crash. We take the time to properly investigate a case and collect evidence to support our clients’ claims. Learn what we can do for you and your bus accident case by calling (800) 863-5312 to set up your free initial consultation.
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Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
