Bus Accident Statistics: National And Michigan

The bus accident statistics confirm what is known by experienced attorneys. There are many types of these automobile crashes that occur every year and, tragically, they all too frequently involve the loss of life and injury to the victims involved. 

Serious bus crashes may seem rare due to the fact that there are fewer buses on the roads than passenger cars. But the truth is that serious safety issues that often arise when there’s negligent management and operation of those buses put the country’s driving public at risk.

Older school buses, motor coaches, and Greyhound buses that lack seat belts and other safety equipment may increase the risk of injury or death from a bus crash.

Due to their sheer size, weight, speed and force, buses that are involved in accidents can cause severe or deadly injuries for passengers, drivers, occupants of other vehicles as well as motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. A typical, fully-loaded school bus can weigh about 42,000 pounds, while an average passenger car weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Given this size disparity and the basic laws of physics, any collision between a bus and another vehicle is likely to yield tragic results.

National bus accident statistics

According to the most current national bus accident statistics available from the  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were a total of 48,204 bus crashes in the U.S. in 2021. 2024 were fatal crashes, which resulted in 221 people losing their lives. And 18,000 people were injured in the 10,000 injury-related bus crashes in the country in 2021.

Michigan bus accident statistics

According to the most current Michigan bus accident statistics available from Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, there were a total of 15,802 bus (and truck) crashes in Michigan in 2022, resulting in 105 deaths and 3,632 people suffering injuries.

Note: For Michigan Traffic Crash Facts reporting purposes, bus crash data is combined with “heavy truck” accident data.

National school bus accident statistics

According to the most current national school bus accident statistics available from FMCSA, there were 80 fatal motor vehicle crashes involving school buses nationwide in 2021, resulting in 84 fatalities. 

Michigan school bus crash data

There were 1,041 school bus crashes in Michigan in 2022, two of which involved the loss of life, according to the most current figures available from Michigan Traffic Crash Facts. However, none of the deaths involved occupants of the school buses.

Cross-country intercity bus crash data

There were 17 fatal motor vehicle crashes involving cross-country intercity buses nationwide in 2021, resulting in 20 fatalities, according to the most current data available from FMCSA.  

Transit bus crash data

According to the most current national bus accident statistics, there were 83 fatal motor vehicle crashes involving school buses nationwide in 2018, resulting in 89 fatalities. 

There were 78 fatal motor vehicle crashes involving transit buses nationwide in 2021, resulting in 86 fatalities, according to the most current data available from FMCSA. 

Talk to a lawyer

A bus crash lawyer who focuses on bus crashes and who has extensive experience litigating cases for people who have been injured in bus crashes can get you the help you need, including benefits to pay for medical bills and lost wages and a settlement that reflects the full value of your injuries. 

Need help? Call the attorneys at Michigan Auto Law

The National and Michigan bus accident statistics show that accidents do happen. If you wered injured in a bus accident in Michigan, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with an experienced bus accident lawyer. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.

Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in auto accidents.

Our secret? Our attorneys deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms.  This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.

Unlike other law firms, our attorneys are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions.

We have more than 2,500 5-Star reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.

More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle accidents than any other lawyer or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported truck accident and car crash settlement in the state.

(Sources: U.S. DOT/FMSCA Analysis Division, “Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2021,” Trends Tables 22, 23 and 24 (overall crashes, fatalities and injuries) and Trends Tables 25 and 27 (school buses, cross-country intercity buses, and transit buses), published November 2023; Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, 2022, Fact Sheets, “Heavy Trucks/Buses”; Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, 2022, Fact Sheets, “School Buses”)