Bus Accidents in South Carolina

The state of South Carolina sees many different types of buses on the roadways including school buses, tour buses, church buses, business vans, airport shuttles, interstate buses such as Greyhound buses, and public transportation buses. Accidents involving buses often result in serious injuries to both riders on the bus as well as other motorists on the roadways.

Causes of Bus Accidents

Thousands of people either use buses or come in contact with buses on the roadways every day in the state of South Carolina. Some of the common causes of bus accidents may include distracted driving (texting while driving), driving while fatigued, driver negligence, the failure to follow road signs and signals, aggressive or reckless driving, dangerous roadways, construction zones, poor weather conditions, or mechanical defects in the bus parts or components. Bus drivers have additional duties and obligations with respect to their passengers, especially when the buses are school buses or buses used for public transportation.

Steps To Follow After a Bus Accident

If you were involved in a bus accident in the state of South Carolina, make sure to take the following steps:

Seek immediate medical evaluation and treatment. Go to an emergency room, or visit a medical professional as soon as possible, as some life-threatening injuries do not actually show symptoms for hours following an accident.
Collect documentation. Attempt to obtain the name, license plate number, driver’s license number, employee number, or any other bus driver information. Additionally, attempt to obtain any contact information of other passengers, victims or witnesses.
If it is possible to do so, attempt to take photographs of both the inside and outside of the bus as well as the entire accident scene. Take photographs of your own personal injuries, the weather conditions, the roadway conditions, and the vehicles involved in the accident.

Determination of Liability

Bus accidents are very different from typical personal vehicle accidents. Many different parties may be held responsible for damages and injuries suffered from a bus accident.

The Bus Company. If an irresponsible or unqualified driver was employed by the bus company, the company may be ultimately responsible for your injuries and damages. Also, if the bus company failed to follow a proper maintenance schedule which led to a mechanical issue on the bus causing the accident, the bus company may also be held responsible.
The Bus Maintenance Company. If the bus company properly hired a maintenance company to ensure that their buses were in a safe condition, and the maintenance company failed to properly maintain the vehicle, they may be held responsible for any damages or injuries.
Governments (State or Local). If the bus was part of a public transportation system, then you may have the right to file a claim against a city, state, or local government entity. It is important to realize that filing a claim against the government is very different than filing a claim against a private entity. Visiting with a personal injury attorney can help you understand the steps you need to follow to file a claim against the government.

Contact a Bus Accident Attorney

If you were involved in an accident involving any kind of a bus, contact a Columbia personal injury attorney at The Stanley Law Group at 803-799-4700 to help you build a strong case and help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.

Resource:

ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/transportation/general-information/statutes-policies-etc/

https://www.thestanleylawgroup.com/truck-accident-injuries/