RI Bus Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident in Rhode Island, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering. Our RI bus accident attorneys have experience in settling these cases and we charge no fee until you obtain a settlement or award. Please feel free to call us toll free 24/7 or contact us online for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.

Bus Accidents are occurring much more frequently across the United States. In fact, buses complete approximately 750 million passenger trips each year (i). Unfortunately, although bus travel remains one of the safest modes of highway transportation in the country, accidents can and do occur, injuring and even killing passengers. The most recent data on record put out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates 54 bus accident fatalities, and 13,000 injuries as a result of bus accidents (ii). Due to rising gas prices and the ever-increasing amount of traffic on the roadways, many more people are resorting to bus transportation. There are many different causes of bus crashes, some include:

• Traffic Violations
• Distracted driving
• Driver errors
• Driver fatigue
• Defective or worn bus equipment
• Conditions of Roads
• Inadequate vehicle maintenance

Bus accidents can be disastrous due to the size of the bus and how many people are involved in the accident. People expect to be safe when they ride on a bus and laws require the bus driver to exercise the “utmost care” while operating the bus. When individuals and companies operate these vehicles outside statutory and regulatory safety requirements, the accidents can be devastating. The duty of “utmost care” is much greater than that which is required of motorists driving their own personal vehicles. Although bus accidents are not as frequent as the typical car accident, they tend to be much more disastrous. Some typical injuries that can occur from bus accidents include:

• Brain injuries
• Concussions
• Scarring/Burns
• Disfigurement
• Broken or fractured bones
• Dislocated or injured shoulders
• Amputation of limbs
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal bleeding/injuries

For those who may choose to travel by bus in the future, the following are some items for consideration.

Things to Consider as a RI Bus Passenger:

• Select the right vehicle
• Find the safest passenger carrier companies in your area
• Review safety performance history
• Check the bus’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration safety rating
• Familiarize yourself with operating authority and insurance requirements
• If you see a safety violation, be sure to notify authorities with a consumer complaint

…For more information, click here.

It is important to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as a bus accident occurs. There are strict time limits regarding when a claim can be filed, and if that time period is over, you no longer have the ability to recover compensation for your injuries. Rhode Island bus accident law is complex and involves many legal intricacies that an experienced attorney can help with.

Contact the Law Offices of d’Oliveira & Associates

If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent driver while riding on a bus in Rhode Island, you may want to speak with a personal injury attorney regarding a potential claim. An RI injury lawyer familiar with new developments in the investigation of bus accidents may be able to help you make important personal and legal decisions.

Call d’Oliveira & Associates at 1-800-992-6878, or fill out a contact form for your free legal consultation.

Sources:

• (i) U.S. Dept. of Transportation Motorcoach Safety Action Plan. 2012.
  http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/safety-security/Motorcoach-Safety-Action-Plan-2012.pdf
• (ii) U.S. Dept. of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic Safety Facts. 2011 Data.
  http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811753.pdf