What happens when a driver gets a citation for causing a bus accident in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania – August 27, 2021
Police reported a white sedan, driven by a 17-year-old girl turned into the path of a black Sedan at the intersection on Indiantown and Schoeneck Roads in Ephrata and caused an impact crash into a Cocalico School District bus, which stopped at a stop sign. There were no students on the bus at the time of the crash and the young driver was not injured, but the driver of the sedan that was pushed into the bus suffered minor injury. Law enforcement personnel issued the Ephrata teen a traffic summons citing her for failing to yield prior to turning. If an individual is hurt, or a loved one has been harmed because of a bus accident, an experienced bus accident attorney can build a case for damage compensation, a traffic citation will strengthen a negligence claim.
Bus accidents.
School buses, tour buses, charter buses and public transit buses are in the news when an accident occurs because of the inflated amount of damage tied to a crash, the number of accident victims, and the frequency of accidents on record. Bus accidents often occur because of driver error, but there are times when they are related to a mechanical problem, dangerous roadway condition, or the fault of another driver. Negligence will need to be proven by a skilled accident lawyer, and fault could be placed on a bus driver, an owner, a manufacturer for mechanical error, other drivers, or a bus company manager who decides on the transportation route a bus will follow.
Duty of care.
When bus drivers, or companies do not observe the higher duty of care they owe to other drivers, it can be considered an act of negligence when injury, or property damage occurs. A bus accident attorney will be able to outline the special rules that apply when a passenger is injured as a result of a bus accident.
Bus driver requirements.
Bus drivers have different demands by regulation as to their safe ability to operate a passenger carrier. The specific medically disqualifying conditions found Under 49 CFR 391.41 are hearing loss, vision loss, epilepsy, and insulin use. Most commercial bus drivers are required to have commercial drivers’ licenses (CDL). The CDL regulations provide that “no person shall operate” a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)s before passing the written and driving tests required for that vehicle (§383.23(a)(1)).
Parties who may be held responsible after a bus accident.
- Government agency who controls bus,
- Other drivers,
- Owner(s) of bus as employer,
- Driver of bus,
- Commercial insurer of bus,
- Regulatory agency supporting bus safety on issues of bus manufacturer and parts manufacturer,
- Licensing agencies of privately owned and public transit vehicles, city, county, or state.
Recoverable damages.
- Medical bills and burial expenses,
- Compensation for lost wages,
- Compensation for pain and suffering,
- Punitive damages that are intended to punish the person who caused the death.
Seek legal counsel.
An experienced bus accident attorney can guide individuals on the actions that need to be undertaken after bodily injury, or property damage occur in a bus accident. Passengers, pedestrians, and other motor vehicle operators should know what actions to take if they are involved in a bus-related accident that negatively affects someone’s livelihood, their own livelihood, and results in damages to their person, property, or ability to earn wages. Scanlon & Wojton will fight for comprehensive damage awards for personal injuries and property damage reimbursement after a bus crash in Pennsylvania.
Scanlon & Wojton, Attorneys at Law
The Mitchell Building
304 Ross Street, Suite 510
Pittsburgh, Pa 15219
Phone: (412) 918-1241
Fax: (412) 235-7275
Sources.
https://www.wgal.com/article/ephrata-police-investigating-crash-involving-school-bus/37420030#
https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/school-bus-safety
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/large-trucks-and-buses-numbers
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/391.41
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/part/383
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/understanding-passenger-carrier-regulations
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!