Atlanta Bus Driver Falls Asleep at the Wheel, Injuring Passengers

On September 15th, WRAL News published footage of an Atlanta bus driver dozing off and crashing his vehicle, which had numerous passengers on board. The collision injured at least two passengers, and it highlights the dangers of public transit in Atlanta. If you are recovering from a bus accident in Atlanta, consider speaking with an attorney about your legal options.

Bus Driver Faces Charges After Crashing Into Trees

Officials say that the bus driver crashed into a tree, which subsequently broke through the windshield before falling over. The tree then fell onto several parked cars, causing even more damage. More importantly, the crash resulted in three injuries: Aside from the bus driver, two passengers on board the vehicle were also hospitalized with unspecified medical issues.

Local police later confirmed that they had charged the bus driver with distracted driving and failing to stay in his lane. As of this writing, MARTA did not confirm the termination of the bus driver but issued a statement highlighting its commitment to passenger safety.

The conduct of the bus driver was captured in stunning detail by the vehicle’s onboard camera. The footage clearly shows the driver “nodding off” before snapping back to full consciousness and regaining control. The bus driver then dozed off again, but he did not wake up a second time. The bus then veered across numerous lanes and collided with the tree. This incident could have been much, much worse.

Passenger “Tossed” by Impact

According to WRAL, one of the passengers was “tossed” across the bus by the impact with the tree. In these situations, passengers are vulnerable to serious injuries due to the lack of seat belts on transit buses. Standing passengers may find themselves hurtling through the air, potentially striking poles, seats, or windows before hitting the floor.

While sources did not reveal the exact details of the passengers’ injuries, a victim who is thrown through the air in this manner may suffer head injuries, fractures, and spinal cord injuries.

How Easy Is It to Sue MARTA?

MARTA is a government organization, and there are specific rules and procedures for lawsuits against the government. That said, injured bus passengers should know that it is certainly possible to sue MARTA and recover enough compensation to cover medical bills, missed income, and other damages.

The ease of these lawsuits depends entirely on the circumstances at play. In the aforementioned bus accident, the driver clearly seems to have fallen asleep at the wheel. He also faces traffic violations. Barring evidence to the contrary, this should be enough to establish negligence and recover compensation.

Can an Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyer Help Me? 

Bus drivers have a duty of care to remain alert behind the wheel. When a driver responsible for the safety of numerous passengers dozes off, the legal implications are clear: Injured passengers may sue MARTA and other public transit companies for their injuries. Contact the Atlanta bus accident lawyers at Morain & Buckelew, LLC to discuss the possibility of a lawsuit.

Sources:

 wral.com/news/ap/caught-on-cam-atlanta-transit-bus-crash-driver-falls-asleep-september-2026/

cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/marta-bus-driver-accused-of-falling-asleep-at-the-wheel-before-crashing-into-tree-police-say/