Denver Tour Bus Accident Attorneys
Colorado Airport Shuttle Injury Lawyer
Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, has shown that the rollover risk of 12 and 15-passenger increases sharply as the number of occupants climbs from less than 5 to more than 10.
The rollover rate of passenger vans with 10 or more occupants is nearly three times the rate of those that are lightly loaded. Additionally, 31% of fatal rollovers involving 15-passenger vans occur during the busy summer travel months.
At the Denver office of Chalat Hatten & Koupal PC, our lawyers provide representation to individuals injured in a shuttle bus or tour bus accident. We use the knowledge of our experienced lawyers and a vast network of experts and resources to investigate and handle your case. Contact an attorney at our firm today to learn more about our representation in bus accident cases.
In 2007, 255 buses in Colorado were involved in crashes, resulting in 56 serious injuries. These accidents can occur with a variety of bus designs, including:
- Motor coaches - also called over-the-road buses - which can typically transport 40 to 50 passengers. This category includes school buses, which vary in size and seating capacity but can typically transport 10 to 80 passengers.
- Mini-buses, designed to transport 16 or more passengers, are typically built on a small truck chassis. A minibus has a smaller seating capacity than a motor coach.
- Passenger vans, which can typically transport 15 or fewer passengers.
- Limousines (and airport shuttles) vary in size and seating capacity, but can typically transport 15 or fewer passengers.
Transporting passengers to and from the airport, numerous shuttle vans hustle around the Denver metro area. These vans are a constant presence on Interstate I-70 during the winter, rushing out-of-state skiers from the airport to the ski resorts. Passenger vans are also frequently used by churches, daycare and eldercare centers, schools and universities - yet they can be extremely hazardous vehicles.
Originally manufactured as cargo vans, automakers never redesigned these vehicles to safely transport people. When five or more passengers are riding in passenger vans, the likelihood of rollover increases dramatically. Because the rear of these vans extend 4 to 5 1/2 feet beyond the rear wheels, loading five or more people and their attendant luggage and equipment causes instability during emergency maneuvers, such as sudden turns to avoid a pedestrian or vehicle. This can cause the vans to fishtail, and because they are top heavy and overloaded in the rear, they are prone to roll over, resulting in devastating crashes.
To learn more about shuttle, van and tour bus accidents and how we handle these cases, contact a lawyer at Chalat Hatten & Koupal PC. During a free consultation you can speak personally with a member of our Colorado legal team about your specific bus accident case and concerns.
