Risks with Charter Buses and Travel

Sometimes nobody wants to drive, or there are so many people attending the same event that a caravan of cars is environmentally unfriendly. Sometimes a large amount of people need to get to the same far-off place for the same reason, or the company you work for would rather shuttle everybody to the convention than pay separate mileage for each car. In those situations, hiring a charter bus can be a wonderful opportunity for everybody to sit back and have a fun trip.

One of the major benefits of a charter bus should be safety. People who drive these types of buses should have the following skills:

• A clean driving record
• A specialty license to operate the vehicle (dependent upon state law)
• Experience handling a large vehicle
• Ability to abstain from drugs and alcohol

The H-2A program thought that was what they were getting when they chartered a bus from Michigan to Texas, but instead they got a terrible accident that left two dozen injured and six dead. Police are still investigating to determine whether alcohol or drugs played a factor, or if bad driving was the cause. There were no known environmental factors.

Whenever an accident with a large vehicle occurs, the driver comes under the microscope, and with good reason. Driving a charter bus is not the same as driving a car. It is a specialized skill-set, which is why you pay a premium for a driver who has experience and skills. If you don’t get what you pay for, then you have every right to be angry.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a bus accident, there are a number of questions you need answered. Many of those questions are about the driver, including questions about experience, certifications, and whether or not they might have been under the influence. Please contact a qualified attorney to help you get those questions answered.