Each year, almost four million people ride the MBTA in Boston. The Transit system is the country’s oldest in operation, and connects all corners of the city through five subway lines and a fleet of 178 bus routes. When passengers board an MBTA bus, they would like to believe that they are safe-safer, perhaps, than they would be anywhere else on the road. Buses are often the largest vehicles on the street, and their sturdy metal frame makes them seem indestructible, but bus accidents are still responsible for hundreds of injuries every year in Boston. As victims of motor vehicle accidents know, some of these injuries can cause permanent damage that can forever alter someone’s lifestyle, or even lead to death.
Bus accidents involve more factors than the common fender bender between two cars. The cause for the accident could be attributed to negligence by the bus driver, the driver of another vehicle, distraction by a passenger, or perhaps faulty equipment on either vehicle. Each incident, of course, is unique and must be investigated thoroughly. Something to be considered, however, is the fact that the buses are usually carrying numerous passengers, which increases the number of injuries. MBTA buses carry a maximum of almost 50 passengers, meaning that every single one of those people has the potential to be injured in an accident.
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