Greyhound is the largest and most recognizable bus company in the United States, transporting an estimated 18 million passengers each year. Some of Greyhound’s most popular routes carry riders through or into Miami, with one bus station located at the Miami International Airport. While most trips are completed safely, negligence can lead to serious accidents and injuries, such as concussions or broken bones. If you were injured while riding a Greyhound bus, or while waiting at a Greyhound bus station, you should talk to an experienced attorney about your options for pursuing financial compensation.
Prosper Shaked is a Greyhound bus accident lawyer serving the Greater Miami Area. Since founding Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA, Prosper has time and time again fought successfully for men and women seriously injured by the negligence of others, establishing himself as an effective legal advocate for bus crash survivors and their loved ones. If you have questions about filing a bus accident lawsuit against Greyhound in Florida, contact Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA online for a free legal consultation, or call (305) 694-2676 for 24-hour assistance.
Causes of Greyhound Bus Accidents in Miami
A disturbing 2016 report by CNN revealed “Greyhound, despite saying safety is a priority, does not enforce its own rule related to driver fatigue.” According to CNN investigators, a crucial internal rule called “G40,” which is intended to reduce or prevent fatigue-induced accidents by imposing rest and sleep requirements, “is treated as a guideline” and is “not enforced” vigorously. Though G40 instructs Greyhound bus drivers to “[s]top approximately every 150 miles to check tires and walk around the bus,” this rule may be routinely ignored.
This is especially troubling since there is a large body of evidence showing that, statistically, fatigue is a leading factor in auto accidents nationwide. For example, as the CNN report pointed out, “A government study from 2012 found 37% of all passenger bus crashes were due to driver fatigue.”
While fatigue is a major factor behind bus crashes, accidents can also be caused by other issues. Some common examples include:
- Braking too hard or too abruptly
- Bus defects, such as problems with the brakes or tires
- Driving while intoxicated by drugs and/or alcohol, including prescription medications
- Failing to check mirrors
- Failing to obey stop signs and red lights
- Failing to use turn signals
- Following too closely behind other vehicles (“tailgating”)
- Speeding, especially around corners or in conditions with poor visibility (such as dense fog or heavy rain)
Though these accident causes may seem diverse, all of them share something in common: human error. If your Greyhound accident injury resulted from somebody’s negligent, careless mistakes, Prosper Shaked is here to help you explore your legal options.
Suing a Greyhound Bus Driver or Bus Company for an Injury
You may have a lawsuit against Greyhound or other parties if your accident was caused by negligence. In order to prevail in your lawsuit, you must show that negligence led to your accident and the associated injuries. But what does that mean for a crash victim?
Put simply, negligence is a failure to meet the reasonable, established standards of safety that are applicable in a given situation, or to a given industry. For example, bus companies are held to high standards of care that require them to train and screen employees properly, maintain their fleets in good working condition, and follow state or federal guidelines. Individual bus drivers, who are responsible for dozens of lives with each journey, are likewise held to high standards for operation of the vehicle. Whether an accident occurs because a bus driver exercises careless judgment, because an employee is not screened or trained correctly, or because a bus is not properly maintained, Prosper Shaked will examine every detail under a microscope to determine who is responsible for compensating your losses.
Common Bus Accident Injuries in Miami, FL
There are several ways that bus-related injuries can occur. The most common scenario is for passengers to be injured in a bus accident, usually caused by factors such as speeding, fatigue, or lack of adequate training. Though less common, injuries can also occur if:
- A bus driver brakes too suddenly or too violently, causing passengers to fall
- A Greyhound passenger is assaulted
- A person is injured at a Greyhound bus station
Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA handles all types of bus injury claims in Miami, including but not limited to the following:
- Bone fractures
- Cuts and bleeding
- Deep, severe bruising
- Hip and knee injuries
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains or strains
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) and related paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), such as concussions
- Whiplash injuries
Call Our Miami Greyhound Bus Crash Attorney for a Free Consultation
If you were hurt in a Greyhound accident in Miami, count on a dedicated and experienced bus crash injury attorney like Prosper Shaked to represent you aggressively. For a free legal consultation with Prosper, contact Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA online, or call (305) 694-2676 today.