Just a couple of weeks ago, our Houston bus accident injury lawyers had mentioned that the federal government seemed to be dragging its feet on safety measures like requiring seatbelts on large coach buses. Safety advocates have been calling for seatbelts in passenger buses for more than 45 years, since a horrific bus wreck left 19 people dead in the Mojave Desert.
A federal rule issued just a few days ago will require three-point lap-shoulder seatbelts to be installed in new intercity buses and in tour buses beginning in late 2016. The new requirement does not apply to city transit buses or to school buses.
NHTSA data shows that about 8,000 people are injured each year in accidents involving passenger buses, like the intercity motorcoaches. Our Houston bus accident injury lawyers emphasize that estimates indicate that seatbelts could reduce bus fatalities and moderate to serious injuries from passenger bus accidents by about half. Around 29,000 large coach and tour buses in the U.S. transport about 700 million people on trips each year, about the same number of people as fly the friendly skies for their travel.
Around 50% of the bus fatalities result from rollovers, and approximately 70% of those killed in the rollover accidents get ejected from the bus during the crash. (Joan Lowy, Associated Press by way of ABC News, 11/20/13) The Houston bus accident injury lawyers at Denena Points, PC remark that this figure is similar to the estimated 77% of passenger car and light truck rollover fatalities resulting from vehicle ejection. Click the link to read about a recent Texas band bus crash that injured members of Willie Nelson’s band and led to several tour cancellations while they recover. Seatbelts might have helped reduce the severity of the injuries.
The new seatbelt requirement is an important step in safety. But since the average large passenger bus is on the road for 20 to 25 years, it could be quite some time before all buses are equipped with the safety belts. In the meantime, be aware of your safety. If you’re riding a bus, check the bus company’s safety record. If you get on a bus, and the driver seems impaired or too drowsy to drive, get off the bus. If the bus seems decrepit, don’t even get on. If you’re riding a bus and the driver is speeding, falling asleep at the wheel, or driving erratically, get off at the first available stop. You might also call 911.
But I’ve ridden intercity buses from time to time. My observation is that your greatest dangers might be from rowdy or impaired fellow passengers. Unfortunately, our Houston bus accident injury lawyers caution that seatbelts don’t solve all the problems you might face on a large bus.
Contact Us for a Free Legal Consultation if You’ve been Seriously Injured in a Bus Crash
The Houston bus accident injury lawyers at Denena Points, PC offer a free, private initial legal consultation to discuss the facts of your accident and evaluate your potential eligibility for a full financial recovery for your injuries. You have no obligation to hire an attorney. And if you do choose our Texas Board Certified personal injury attorneys to pursue your case, we never charge you attorneys’ fees unless we win your case for you. Put our more than 12 years of experience successfully resolving complex personal injury and wrongful death cases to work for your family’s benefit. Call us at 713-807-9500 or reach us anytime through our online contact form to schedule your free legal consultation.