Florida Personal Injury Blog
MIAMI ACCIDENT LAWYERS SHARES INSIGHT ON HIGHWAY BUS ACCIDENTS – CAUSE AND EFFECT
In Miami, the accident lawyers at the Perazzo Law Firm understand that long distance buses sometimes break down on the road and other times are involved in accidents that lead to injuries and losses to passengers and other motorists. Most often, long distance bus accidents that occur on the highway are the result of either poor maintenance of the vehicles or human error or negligence.
When a driver or bus company employee acts negligently, which can be by failing to maintain equipment in proper manner, speeding, tailgating, or another form of negligence, accidents may happen that result in injury or death to passengers or other motorists.
Public transportation vehicles are involved in collisions yearly and cannot compare to the high number of accidents involving everyday drivers. On average, there are some 60,000 accidents involving buses yearly in the United States. Though most of these accidents end in property damage, hundreds of individuals suffer wrongful death, with thousands suffering bodily harm.
Following a bus accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation for damages by way of a personal injury lawsuit if you are injured or suffer losses in the accident. If a loved one dies in a bus crash, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed.
A long distance bus accident can be the result of any of the following:
- Bus Company / Operator negligence by failure to hire / train personnel, or properly maintain vehicles.
- Bus driver negligence
- Bus driver fatigue
- Adverse weather conditions
- Blind spots
- Left / improper turns
- Another motorist negligence / fault
- Bus fires
- Engine failure
- Tire blowouts
- Alcohol behind the wheel
- Negligent Cellphone use
- I was injured as a passenger on a Miami Transit Bus.
- I was travelling on a transit bus when it crashed into another vehicle.
- I was on a transit bus when a motor vehicle crashed into the bus.
- I was a on passenger bus that lost control and crashed on a Miami highway.
- I was in my car when a transit bus crashed into me.
- I was run over by a transit bus while crossing at an intersection.
- A friend or relative was run over by a transit bus.
- Head Injuries – Sustained as a result of a blow to the head, either impact with the floor, seats, windows, overhead luggage, objects, or passengers.
- Neck Injuries – Sustained from sudden impact, sudden braking, or rear impact.
- Fractures and broken bones – The elderly are most at risk of fractures and breaks in bus accidents. A fall can cause a broken shoulder, pelvis, or hip.
- Mental Trauma – Bus accidents can create phobias and fears of traveling on buses. Mental trauma can lead to medical attention and medical bills.
- Wrongful death – Serious bus accidents that involve roll-overs may end tragically.
SAFETY DRIVING TIPS FOR MOTORISTS
The Miami car accident lawyers at the Perazzo Law Firm know that car accidents in Miami are more likely to occur when drivers take to avenues and roadways which lend themselves to greater speeds. These greater speeds increase the chances of suffering more severe personal injuries from car accidents, and the chances of being involved in a car accident become more probable when your vehicle is not in proper condition. For your vehicle to be considered in proper condition for driving under adverse weather conditions, vehicle owners and operators should verify the quality and functionality of the parts of the vehicle most important when driving in the rain or in a storm.
Vehicle owners and operators should check the following:
Tires: A vehicle’s tires are like the footwear on your feet. When driving in the rain, traction is everything. When your tires are bald or worn-down, you can easily lose control by making a sudden maneuver, which can result in skidding, hydroplaning, or blowouts. When you lose control on a wet surface and at high speed, it’s very likely that your vehicle can slide into another traffic lane and be struck by another vehicle. If another vehicle does not crash into you, your final resting spot can be a light post or a highway divider. Making sure your tires are in good condition will help motorists avoid accidents by being able to control their vehicles through better traction upon having to make sudden lane changes or maneuvers. Check your tires and the tire pressure. Avoid accidents when driving in the rain by making sure your tires are in good shape.
Signs of bad tires:
- Cracks or cuts in the sidewalls (can result in blowouts which can lead to accidents resulting in severe personal injury)
- Uneven wear (you should have your alignment checked)
- Very worn tread (limited traction on wet surfaces – like walking on ice)
- Bulging or bumps (these can result in a blowout)
- Vibration while driving (your tires need to be balanced)
The Miami car accident lawyer, Jonathan Perazzo of the Perazzo Law Firm urges motorists to check their tires regularly and make sure the tire pressure is correct. Do not drive in the rain with bald tires unless you are prepared for a possible collision.
Brakes: When the brake system on your vehicle doesn’t function properly, damage to your vehicle’s tire may be irreversible. Slamming on the brakes as a result of worn brake pads, rotors, calipers, or other parts, most often lead to tires becoming unbalanced. This will ultimately affect the tires and make them grow old more quickly. But what about bad brakes in the rain? The more worn down your brakes are, the more difficult it is for them to lower the vehicle’s speed and stop suddenly. When your tires are in bad condition, the end result will most often be a collision. Always have your brakes checked and make sure they are working properly. Investing in good brakes may save you thousands in medical expenses after an accident occurs because of not being able to stop in time.
Defrosters: Many motorists neglect their defrosters until they need them when their windshield gets foggy in the rain. Making sure your defrosters function properly is very important for avoiding accidents when driving in adverse weather conditions. Defrosters improve your visibility when looking through the windshield after it starts getting foggy from the humidity. Always make sure they work properly.
Windshield wipers. The wiper motor rarely stops functioning, but the wipers do become worn and dry after time. When they are worn and dry, they will not push rain off your windshield. Thus, your ability to see the road ahead more clearly will diminish and the chances of a collision with a vehicle ahead will increase. Windshield wipers are not expensive and replacing worn wipers can save you a great deal of hardship if you are involved in an accident because you were not able to see a stopped or slowed vehicle ahead. Spend a few bucks and get new wipers.
Headlights, Taillights, and Hazard Lights: Seeing is everything when driving at night or in the rain. If other vehicles can’t see you or you can’t see other vehicles, you have a problem and the chances of being in an accident run high. Making sure your lights work is fundamental for driving at night or in the rain. You need to see what’s ahead of you just as much as other drivers need to see you around them. Make sure all your vehicle’s lights work, these include your brake lights, reverse lights, and hazard lights. Other motorists need to see you behind them and approaching, but they also need to see you in front of them and stopping.
THE MIAMI CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS AT THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM SHARE ADVICE FOR DRIVING IN THE RAIN:
- Make sure to keep both hands on the wheel
- Refrain from using your cell phone
- Keep ample distance between you and the vehicle in front
- Reduce your speed in accordance with the flow of traffic
- Keep off flooded roadways to avoid engine failure
- Pump your brakes after driving over deep pools of rain
- Use the middle lanes if possible since less water gathers there
- Use the tracks that other vehicles ahead of you leave behind
- Stay clear of larger vehicles such as tractor-trailers or long distances buses. If you must pass them, apply extreme caution
- Keep your eyes on the road and watch for slowed or stopped traffic ahead
- If moving forward becomes too difficult, pull over onto the shoulder or pull into a gas station
The Perazzo Law Firm urges drivers, as well as passengers, to follow the above advice in order to prevent accidents when driving in the rain.