Lawsuits Against Nursing Home Buses

When handling nursing home passengers who may be medically or physically impaired, bus drivers must take extra precautions in ensuring that they execute and follow all proper procedures to ensure the safety of their passengers. Unfortunately, nursing homes don't take these responsibilities seriously enough, and can be careless with the way their buses are operated. When this happens, a passenger whose health may already be compromised is put at even greater risk for injury. This article outlines ways that a nursing home bus could potentially put its passengers at risk and what to do if your loved one was injured from an accident on a nursing home bus.

Questions Answered on This Page:

• How can nursing home bus accident put a passenger at risk?
• How can a lawyer help me if I was injured in a nursing home bus accident?

Ways Buses May Put Their Passengers at Risk

Nursing homes often have their own buses for transporting the residents to and from doctors' appointments, physical therapy sessions, outpatient surgery or dialysis, shopping centers, hair and dental appointments, etc. The purpose of these vehicles is to make the residents' lives easier, but when the proper safety precautions are not exercised, these trips can result in disaster.

Here is a list of types of negligence that could make a nursing home bus dangerous for its passengers or result in an accident:

• Improperly trained drivers or operators- Sometimes a nursing home bus driver may not have been trained on properly transporting people in wheelchairs or with special needs. This training is important because the driver needs to be able to operate the lift that allows people in wheelchairs to safely enter and exit the bus. So, if a passenger was injured because of mishandling the vehicle or parts of the vehicle, the company would be responsible for paying for their injuries.
• Absence or improper use of safety belts- With many people in a nursing home needing assistance, the driver and/or assistants must ensure all of the passengers are properly fastened. In addition to safety belts, passengers in wheelchairs need to be secured in the vehicle so that they will not be jarred or injured during the ride.
• Unhealthy and dangerous conditions- Under normal conditions bus riding conditions there may be passengers who need extra care, but with nursing home passengers there may be additional need requirements that need to be addressed, such as, oxygen tanks, etc. These must be handled safely for those passengers and the other passengers on board.
• Insufficient passenger assistance- As mentioned, passengers will need someone properly trained to make sure they enter and exit the bus safely, that they have assistance with any security while riding the bus, and that any additional needs are attended to by someone. If the bus requires that someone ride with the passenger to assist them, the bus driver needs to make sure he or she does not let anyone board who does not meet that requirement.
• Improper mechanical maintenance- Buses used for transporting nursing home residents must have additional mechanical features, such as a lift and ramp for getting people in wheelchairs in and out of the bus, and they must function properly in order to prevent injuries. Like any other vehicle, all parts should be inspected regularly to ensure everything is functioning correctly, especially on a bus where the occupants are unable to escape unassisted.
• Bus transport versus ambulance transport- Although this last one is not very common, there have been instances where the nursing home believed a resident didn't need an ambulance, and transferred the individual to the hospital on a bus, only to realize that they did not evaluate the resident well enough. As a result, the resident was further injured or became sicker because they were not handled appropriately.

We're here to help you.

If you or someone in your family was injured or killed after a nursing home bus accident, the owners of the bus may be liable for your injuries. Proving their negligence will help you win your case, and a good investigator and lawyer can help you collect all the data and facts surrounding the incident. Our attorneys at Grossman Law Office in Dallas, TX feel confident in our ability to answer any additional questions you have. Call (855)326-0000 for your free consultation.

Related articles for further reading:

• Filing Suit Against Bus Manufacturers for Dangerous and Defective Vehicles
• Lawsuits Involving Commercial Buses
• Insurance Coverage Requirements for Commercial Buses