- June 18, 2015
- Tucker Law
- Vehicle Accidents
Last week, two buses crashed into one another inside the Lincoln Tunnel. No one was seriously injured, but very many were seriously annoyed. The logistics of this non-fatal accident complicated the matter immensely; when two gargantuan vehicles collide within the tight confines of a narrow corridor, traffic jams are sure to arise. Not to mention that the inhabitants of one bus were dozens of New Jersey born eight-graders on a school trip, which seriously elevates the levels of concern. However, none of the children were seriously hurt, and the passengers of the commuter bus that instigated the crash all survived with minor bumps and bruises. In all, 31 were injured, but lightly enough that they were all able to walk away from the scene of the crash.
The central problem, therefore, remained: clearing out the scene in time to relieve traffic of an already congested rush hour. And while traffic congestion radiated inflexibly out, in both snaking directions, waylaying some and delaying most, it is something of a relief, in this day and age, to hear about an accident with no casualties.
Bus Accident Stats
Sure, traffic is irritating, but in light of hammer-wielding assailants and stabbings outside of public schools, it is comparatively welcome to hear that bus accidents are, mercifully, amongst the last dangerous types of accidents. Here are some statistics and facts concerning bus accidents:
- Firstly, it’s important to remember that all buses are different. School, city, and charter buses all have different operating procedures. For example, a school bus takes many precautions when turning or crossing train tracks. A city bus may be trying to adhere to a tight timetable, but a school bus’ number one priority is the safety of the children.
- Charter buses have a higher-than-average involvement rate in fatal accidents, however, due to the gargantuan size of the buses themselves, the deaths are often attributed to the pedestrians, cyclists or other motorists involved in the accident. That charter buses are more likely to be involved in a crash is good news for city-dwellers. The error-rate in inter-city touring buses is much higher than that of intra-city buses. Maybe, because of the high volume of stops on any given city bus’ assigned line, in addition to the high-traffic nature of city streets, these city buses are unable to hit the high speeds a charter bus is able to when traversing highways.
- Some bus-accident data is mired in ambiguity. For instance (perhaps intuitively), studies show that beginner drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes. Novices, and drivers under the age of 30, have been linked with a higher rate of accidents. However, a spike in accident rates has also been observed in drivers over the age of 65. Strangely, there has been no positive-correlation observed between crashes and risk-taking behavior behind the wheel. Impairment or speeding have not been found to be majorly contributory factors in most accidents. Perhaps, the cumbersome nature of the vehicle is the hardest obstacle for drivers to overcome.
- Every year in America, the rough population of Europe, around 700 million people, are transported via bus. Only 250 deaths are reported, annually. While 250 deaths is no small price to pay, this ratio indicates a strong safety record for buses, compared to other modes of transportation.
- Officials think that they can do even better, however. Many safety-enhancing improvements have been developed and are being introduced to buses country-wide. According to officials, what’s most important is more stringent overhead regulatory committees. Charter bus companies with poor track records have been known to dissolve and re-emerge under different names- with expunged records. A more careful tracking process will prevent negligent business owners from continuing to operate.
- For years, a crusade for safety-inspectors has been reinforcing both windows and roofs. By strengthening the window glazing and roof structure of buses, professionals believe that the mortality-possibility of most crashes will dip dramatically.
- Forward-thinking scientists are already contemplating the future: intuitive tilt-prevention systems, crash-damage minimizing internal computers, lane-departure warning alarms, etc. All of these features could be implemented in buses to help drive down the likelihood of injury.
Tucker Lawyers PC
Are you an out-of-towner, injured while sightseeing on one of New York’s iconic double-deckers? Are you a seasoned veteran, who was involved in a crash while catching your crosstown favorite? Either way, it is important that you seek high-quality legal representation. At Tucker Lawyers PC, we have a team of attorneys ready and eminently-capable of defending your rights. In many cases, we’ve been able to secure compensation for the pain, suffering, and financial hardship that comes inextricably along with involvement in accidents such as these. If you are seeking compensation on behalf of a loved one, we would love to set up a free consultation, where we can begin discussing the details of your case. Our consultations are easy and always free, so contact us today.
Managing Attorney John. J. Tucker, Esq.
John has personally handled thousands of clients who were victims of another’s negligence and fights relentlessly for their rights. John enjoys bringing closure to a client’s matter so that the injured party can move forward with their life. His background enables him to evaluate complex liability related claims and bring resolution to claims in a record time frame. [ Attorney Bio ]