Arkansas Injury Lawyer Blog

Cut-rate bus companies, driver fatigue and the need for safer windows and roofs came into focus after a New York bus crash killed 15 people on their way home from a casino. Reports indicate that the driver was driving on a suspended license and should not have been behind the wheel.

The bus is similar to buses in Arkansas that talk people to the casinos for a cheap fare. Federal regulators have long recognized the dangers of fly-by-night bus companies that skimp on safety and skirt the regulations. Although, it was unclear whether this company could be lumped into that category, it is clear that their safety policies and practices were poor.

Driver fatigue, which has been cited more often than any other reason as a cause or contributing factor to bus crashes, has been the target of a slew of recommendations not just for buses and trucks, but in aviation, rail and marine accidents as well. Additionally, reports indicate that the driver served time in prison for manslaughter and grand larceny.

Arkansas personal injury law mandates a high duty on bus drivers and bus companies. However, it is imperative that passengers fully investigate bus companies before they use their services. If you have any questions regarding a bus accident or bus crash, please contact an Arkansas bus accident lawyer to discuss your rights in any personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Big Rigs or 18-Wheelers are enormous, slow to stop and make very wide turns. A truck wreck with a car is usually severe. A new study shows tractor-trailers are more dangerous than previously thought.

In a study released by the Insurance Industry for Highway Safety (IIHS), the report states that “New crash tests and analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety demonstrate that underride guards on tractor-trailers can fail in relatively low-speed crashes — with deadly consequences. The Institute is petitioning the federal government to require stronger underride guards that will remain in place during a crash and to mandate guards for more large trucks and trailers,” IIHS writes in a press release.

Rear guards are important for reducing under-ride deaths and injuries when a car crashes into the back of a tractor-trailer in an accident. "Under-ride makes death or serious injury more likely since the upper part of the passenger vehicle's occupant compartment typically crushes as the truck body intrudes into the vehicle safety cage,” explains the IIHS.

The results of these tests are show that the trucks are dangerous. According to the report, the car would underride the trucks when the guard rail failed, causing encroachment into the interior compartment of the passenger vehicles. The federal government needs to enact stricter guidelines to make sure the trucks are safe and passengers in automobiles are protected from defective trucks.

If you or a family member has suffered injuries in a truck accident, please contract an Arkansas truck accident lawyer and injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights.