Bus accidents happen less often than vehicle collisions. However, bus accidents have more severe consequences and fatalities.
Some researchers estimate that 60,000 bus crashes occur annually in the United States. That’s a small number compared to the six million vehicle accidents that happen annually.
Since buses carry several passengers, each accident results in more injuries and deaths. It’s the same for other public transportation methods such as trains.
The types of buses that travel on American roads include:
- Public
- Charter
- School
- Sightseeing
Each has a purpose.
Nonetheless, riding on buses is relatively a safe choice. Of course, experiencing an accident first-hand will change a person’s perspective.
The following are five ways on how to cope with being a bus accident victim.
1. Seek Medical Care
When it comes to a bus accident, the victim is someone riding on that bus. It’s also a nearby pedestrian or passengers in a vehicle that experienced impact with the bus.
Nonetheless, those involved in the collision should seek medical care immediately.
Doctors and medical staff will ensure that the victims have no urgent injuries that require additional attention. Plus, the visit establishes a paper trail in case the injuries worsen.
Medical care costs in the United States remain expensive. As a victim, you have ways to reduce them significantly. Legal professionals in personal injury can offer additional advice.
2. Obtain Physical Therapy
Some collision victims will require physical therapy after the incident. Since buses have more room inside, it has more space that can cause severe injuries.
In the movies, audiences will see buses that roll or drag for several yards. Those motions will cause passengers to fall on top of each other and bang themselves on the interior walls.
Coping with the incident starts with returning to good health. Physical therapy helps injuries heal correctly. It can also speed up the healing process. Victims must maintain and improve their range of motion. Otherwise, they set themselves up for chronic pain and painful scar tissue.
If your body heals, you’re more likely to overcome the trauma of the collision.
3. Attend Support Group Meetings
Those who experience a bus collision benefit from attending support group meetings. Bus-involved accidents are far less than vehicle-related ones so there aren’t necessarily several bus victim support groups.
Instead, you can attend support meetings for people experiencing trauma. If you attend those that follow the anonymous rules, you’ll have the freedom to talk – sometimes talking is all a person needs for coping.
In addition, lean on your family for support. They may not fully understand your experience but they can become a shoulder to lean on and an ear that will listen.
4. Seek Professional Mental Care
If you can’t find a support group or cannot build one at home, seek professional mental care. Professionals have experience working with an array of patients. They will diagnose your condition and develop a treatment plan.
The medical community has changed the way that they treat patients with trauma. They no longer follow a cookie-cutter approach. The medical community customizes treatment plans for each patient.
It’s important to prevent the trauma from becoming something worse such as PTSD.
If you need counseling or therapy, find a medical professional who can provide it to help you cope.
5. Ride the Bus Again
As gas prices continue to soar and the cost of new vehicles rises, riding buses provides several perks. Passes are far cheaper than gallons of gas. Plus, riding allows passengers to relax. It’s an opportunity to unplug and focus on other things instead of traffic.
Riding the bus again helps accident victims cope with the incident. It’s unfortunate to experience something like that; it’s also unfortunate to become a statistic. However, every individual experiences something unpleasant in their lifetimes.
If the accident occurred on public transit, a school bus, or a charter, the company that employs each driver will investigate the incident. When they find the cause, the company will address it to help instill confidence in the passengers.
Each company must keep passengers safe, especially the for-profit ones. Otherwise, they will lose paying customers and credibility. Taxpayers foot the bill for school and public transit buses. Thus, the public deserves to feel safe in both.
Conclusion
Bus accident victims can experience more trauma than those in vehicle crashes. However, they happen less frequently than car collisions. To cope with the incident, seek the proper medical and mental health care. Then, ride the bus again so you’ll remember that it is a safe mode of transportation.
