If you’ve been living around Atlanta for a few years, you probably remember the Atlanta bus wreck that killed seven people, including five college baseball players in 2007. As a Georgia bus accident lawyer who follows the news closely, I certainly do.
It was a horrible bus accident. The college baseball team’s charter bus fell off a highway bypass 30 feet above the ground. It was a
More than two dozen passengers were injured. The bus driver, unfamiliar with Atlanta, apparently caused the accident by confusing a left-lane exit ramp with the highway. He drove the bus through a stop sign and into a concrete barrier at full speed.
The force of the impact whipped the massive bus around, and some passengers were thrown onto the overpass at impact. Then the bus tumbled off the overpass and onto Interstate 75 below.
Kitty Higgins of the National Transportation Safety Board said that an inspection of the bus revealed no problems with the brakes, suspension, tires, or steering. She said that the driver probably misread or missed signs that marked the left-lane exit which separates from the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane.
Large busses, like large tractor trailer trucks, are top heavy and can easily lose control and flip. With passengers onboard, they can also weigh nearly as much as some semi trucks.
School buses are not exempt from the danger. School bus accidents in Georgia happen all too often. Last year a school bus in Canton overturned, sending 11 students to the hospital. Luckily, no one was killed. The bus lost control after the driver overcompensated when the tires went off the pavement.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,536 people died in school bus accidents between 1996 and 2006.
Here are some more alarming statistics on school bus wrecks:
– Approximately 40 people die in school bus accident each year.
– In 72 percent of fatal school bus accidents, the victims are occupants of other vehicles.
– Approximately 57 percent of school bus wrecks involve another vehicle.
– Each year, nearly 24 million children ride a school bus, and 12,000 of them are injured in school bus accidents.
Still, many school buses do not have safety belts or restraints of any kind. Other motorists are even more likely to be injured in a school bus wreck.
Because buses are so large and heavy, accidents often result in serious injury and death. Bus accidents may be caused by dangerous roads, weather conditions, defective parts, improper maintenance, or driver negligence, among others.
If you’ve been injured in a bus accident as a passenger, another motorist, or a pedestrian, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the bus company (whether it‘s public or private). Cases against public or government organizations can be very complex and have strict time limits.
If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, contact an experienced Georgia bus accident lawyer as soon as possible. Remember, you have a limited amount of time to file a case. Plus, the longer you wait, the harder it will be for your attorney to collect valuable evidence.
MLN Law has the legal experience and medical expertise you need. Through caring, aggressive representation, we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call (404) 531-9700 now to schedule your free consultation. If you wait, you may jeopardize your case.