Tour Bus Accidents

Tour buses a great way for people to explore and see new places. For most tourists, it is also typically a cost effective and safe experience. Sadly, sometimes tour bus companies and drivers engage in irresponsible conduct. If you’ve sustained an injury or lost a loved one in a tour bus collision, our skilled Wheaton and Schaumburg bus accident attorneys can potentially help you. You might be able to recoup compensation for your medical bills and any time you missed from work. We can meticulously go over the details of the bus wreck and advise you of your rights.

Bus Accident Statistics

Unfortunately, bus accidents are more common than you may realize. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately three hundred deadly bus accidents take place across the country every year. In Illinois, bus accidents are a serious problem as well. The Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics Report found that there were a total of 1,508 school bus crashes and 2,733 accidents involving other buses in 2017. The school bus accidents led to 269 injuries and two deaths. Accidents involving other buses, including tour buses, led to 579 injuries and six deaths.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents

Crashes involving buses often end in tragedy. Bus accidents can have a number of causes including, but not limited to:

• Driving recklessly;
• Driving while drowsy;
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
• Driving in an unsafe manner (i.e., excessive speeding or failing to follow traffic laws);
• Adverse weather conditions leading to poor visibility;
• Defective bus equipment;
• Improper bus maintenance; and/or
• Dangerous road conditions.

Establishing Liability for a Tour Bus Accident

Tour bus companies are “common carriers” under the law, which means that their primary business is to transport people from one place to another for compensation. Common carriers have a heightened legal responsibility and duty of care to their passengers that includes making sure that passengers are protected from harm at every stage of the bus ride. As such, tour bus companies can be held accountable for any injury caused by an accident.

Driver negligence is most often the cause of tour bus accidents. Negligence occurs when a tour bus driver fails to use reasonable care while operating the bus, thereby causing an accident. Reasonable care refers to the degree of care that a reasonably competent tour bus driver would have used under the same or similar circumstances. For example, if a tour bus driver caused an accident by excessively speeding, that driver would likely be liable for negligence because a reasonably competent bus driver would not excessively speed understanding the risk of accident associated with such conduct. A dedicated injury lawyer can determine whether you may be able to prove driver negligence in your case.

Tour Bus Company Liability

In certain cases, both the negligent driver and the tour bus company will be legally responsible for the tour bus accident. Under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability, you may be able to hold the tour bus company accountable for the negligence of the tour bus driver’s actions. For an employer to be vicariously liable for the actions of his or her employee, the employee must have been working within the scope of employment at the time of the accident.

In other cases, the tour bus company may be solely at fault for an accident. For example, if a tour bus accident was caused by faulty bus equipment that fell into disrepair because of the bus company’s negligence, then the bus company alone will likely be liable for the tour bus crash.

Tour Bus Attorneys Serving Schaumburg and Wheaton

Due to the sheer size and weight of buses, any accident in involving these vehicles can have catastrophic consequences for everyone involved. If you have been injured while on a tour bus, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Therman Law Offices, our reputable Wheaton and Schaumburg lawyers understand how to handle these complex cases. We take on clients from Glendale Heights, Villa Park, Addison, Elmhurst, Lombard, West Chicago, Westmont, Oakbrook Terrace, Lemont, and Clarendon Hills. For more information, please feel free to call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.