--- description: DC personal injury attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. discuss budget bus companies and poor safety records. title: Budget Bus Companies & Poor Safety | DC Bus Accident Lawyer canonical: https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2017/09/concerns-rise-over-budget-charter-bus-companies-with-poor-safety-records/ date_published: 2017-09-29T14:15:00+00:00 date_modified: 2025-11-19T18:06:59+00:00 --- Budget Bus Companies & Poor Safety | DC Bus Accident Lawyer # Concerns Rise Over Budget Charter Bus Companies with Poor Safety Records Last Updated: November 19, 2025 Reading Time: 3 minutes Trusted Content Legally Reviewed by Allan Siegel Updated 9 months ago [Home](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/) » [Recent Posts](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/) » Concerns Rise Over Budget Charter Bus Companies with Poor Safety Records What's On This Page [Case Results](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/case-results/) $18.8 Million Car Crash $2 Million Car Crash $1.9 Million Car Crash $1.37 Million Car Crash $1.1 Million Car Crash $1 Million Car Crash [View All Practice Areas](https://chaikinandsherman.com/practice-areas/) [Testimonials](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/testimonials-hub/) They were adamant about getting me the best settlement. Torkwase Akinalana Car Accidents Proved to be the perfect advocate Michael Bizik Car Accidents I highly recommend the law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, and Siegel P.C. Anna Pastel-Powell Car Crash Mr. Siegel’s strong conviction, dedication, and determination prevailed in a legal victory. Gail Payne Car Accidents I knew I was in good hands once I stepped into their office. Gladys Ibeh Car Accidents They treated me like I was their only client, from beginning to end. Joy Lopez Car Accidents Contact Us Today! "*" indicates required fields Name* First Last Name* Last Email** Phone*Are you a new client?*Are you a new client? *Yes, I'm a potential new client.No, I'm a current existing client.I'm neitherCase TypeCase TypeMotor Vehicle AccidentSlip & FallAssaultMedical MalpracticeAbuseWork InjuryOtherWere You at Fault?Were You At Fault?NoYesUnknownWhere Did The Incident Occur?Where Did The Incident Occur?Washington, D.C.VirginiaMarylandOtherDid The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?Did The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?YesNoShare Brief Description of the Incident* Watch our attorneys explain how they fight for car accident victims across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. With over $1 billion recovered, our team knows how to build a winning case — from investigation through trial. Video Transcript **Speakers:** Ira Sherman, Joseph Cammarata, Stephen Ollar, Allan Siegel **Ira Sherman (00:02):** I would say that Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata and Siegel has a completely different outlook on cases that other people think are garden variety automobile accidents, because to the person who is involved in that accident, that’s not garden variety, that’s altering their life. **Joseph Cammarata (00:21):** First of all, we don’t advertise. People come to us by word of mouth, either from defense lawyers, from insurance companies, from colleagues at the bar. They know that we have decades of experience in the personal injury field. They know that what we bring to bear is a group of lawyers that work and non-lawyers that work as a team to make sure we understand what the nature and the extent of the injury is. We make sure we understand and can express to a third party just what those injuries are, and we work to obtain the most compensation that we can for an individual. **Stephen Ollar (01:04):** What we do a lot of is discovery, not just discovery of the facts of the case, but discovery about insurance. It may be that the individual was operating the vehicle for an employer, and if they were acting with what we call the course and scope of their employment, then there could be potentially additional coverage that would cover a person for those injuries. **Allan Siegel (01:27):** We’ve been handling car accident cases since Don Chaikin founded this firm over 50 years ago. Since we spend a lot of time and we have a lot of those cases, we have developed a level of experience and knowledge that I think is very unique in our field. There aren’t many law firms who can say that they’ve been doing this type of work for over 50 years. **Ira Sherman (01:52):** I care enough to look to determine who this person is and how it affected them, and that takes up a lot of my conversation with our clients. Following last week’s fatal[ charter bus accident](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/2014/05/how-safe-are-the-buses-on-our-highways/) in Queens that killed three victims, officials and advocates are again demanding a closer look into thousands of private bus companies operating in the U.S. While what they are likely to find, unfortunately, is nothing secret, it is incredibly alarming. That’s because many private bus companies with[ poor safety records ](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/2015/05/5-nursing-students-killed-in-tractor-trailer-accident-trucking-company-scrutinized-for-poor-safety-record/)and numerous violations continue to operate and serve riders – and they are able to do so because local governments have little [power to regulate and take action.](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/2013/12/federal-officials-shut-down-52-bus-companies-one-in-virginia/) Dahlia Group, the company responsible for the charter bus involved in last week’s tragic crash, is one example of bus companies that continue operations despite questionable safety records. An investigation into Dahlia Group’s safety record revealed that the company was involved in two other fatal accidents in the past 14 years, both of which occurred while passengers were being transported to local casinos, and that the bus driver, who investigators stated was speeding at the time of the crash, had previously been convicted of [drunk driving](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/drunk-driving-accidents/) and was fired by the MTA. Although the cause of last week’s wreck has still not been determined, Dahlia Group’s checkered past is more common than most would think in the private bus industry. This includes Yep Tour, a private bus company that continues to operate in New York despite having received more than 200 safety violations in the past two years and pleas from city officials to shut it down. Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which oversees interstate bus and trucking companies, places Yep Tour in the bottom 10% of all bus companies in the country for three years running. Although three Yep Tour buses were seized by NYC authorities after the company failed to pay over $300,000 in fines, the city still issued Yep Tour a permit for it to pick up and drop off passengers between New York, Pennsylvania, and even Washington, DC when the Massachusetts-based company successfully argued that the city did not have the right to interfere with an out-of-state company’s interstate operations. In a $5 billion private bus industry with over 3,200 operators, including many discount and budget bus companies that contract with casinos to ferry gamblers, many companies have distressing records of violating safety rules, poorly maintaining vehicles, overworking employees, and failing to properly test and qualify drivers. Those bus companies and their spotty records often come to light only after tragedy strikes, and when local lawmakers attempt to make changes or tighten regulations in response, they find that they are limited due to the fact that federal law pre-empts local laws when it comes to buses. As experts state, the problem with enacting safety changes and getting unsafe bus companies off the road stems from a patchwork system where buses are overseen and regulated by the federal, state, and local government. Although states have licensing powers, local agencies have little ability to limit the activity of bus companies. Unfortunately, the federal government, which does have that ability, often falls short in taking action against bus lines with excessive safety violations. While we have reported on large-scale [federal investigations into the bus industry](https://www.cscsvirginia.com/Personal-Injury-Blog/2013/December/Federal-Officials-Shut-Down-52-Bus-Companies-One.aspx) in the past, advocates argue that more can be done, especially when it comes to oversight of all companies and their safety records. ### Preventing Tragedies While budget bus lines provide a needed service to consumers, that service should never come at the expense of public safety. As a personal injury law firm with experience representing victims of [bus accidents](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/), [tractor-trailer wrecks](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/), and other serious accidents involving corporations, we have seen all too often how companies will continue to skirt laws and prioritize profits over people when they are not held accountable. Because there are difficulties in regulation at the local level – and a need for better oversight overall that will ensure transportation companies take reasonable measures to prevent tragedies – it is often the case that these companies are only called out and held accountable when victims and families hold them civilly liable. These civil personal injury and [wrongful death](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/wrongful-death/) cases are powerful tools for victims to secure justice after being harmed and wronged by negligent conduct, and they are critical to raising awareness and sending a message to other operators that such conduct will not be tolerated. However, the fight to prevent tragedies that could and should be prevented still requires better regulations and laws. In the face of challenges posed by lax regulatory policies, poor oversight, and other issues, our Washington, DC personal injury lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. take our role as advocates all the more seriously. As we fight for victims and families who have already been harmed, we also fight to prevent similar tragedies from affecting innocent victims in the future. We believe we play an important role for both our clients and public safety, which is why we always fight aggressively when working to hold corporations accountable for their negligence. If you have questions regarding your rights after a bus accident or any other preventable accident, our legal team is available to fight on your behalf. [Contact us](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/contact-us/) to discuss your needs during a free consultation. [Watch Our Video Testimonials](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/testimonials-hub/) Get free advice about the compensation you deserve. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our car accident attorneys fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve, handling every aspect of your case to protect your rights. Trust us to stand by you and advocate aggressively on your behalf. Speak to a Specialist Visit Us in Person 1232 17th St NW Washington, DC 20036 The car accident lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. serve the entire Washington, D.C. metro area, including [Virginia](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/virginia/) ([Northern Virginia car accident cases](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/northern-virginia/), [Arlington](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/auto-accident-attorneys-in-arlington-va/), [Fairfax County auto accident claims](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/fairfax/), [Woodbridge](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/woodbridge-va/), [Manassas](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/manassas-va/), and [Alexandria](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/alexandria/)) and Maryland ([Bethesda](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/bethesda/), [Hyattsville](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/hyattsville/), [Rockville](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/rockville/), Lau Top 10 Mistakes Made After an Accident Review these common auto accident mistakes to protect your rights. READ OUR E-BOOK Meet Our Team Learn More About Us Ira Sherman Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and New York With over four decades of courtroom experience, **Ira Sherman** is a powerhouse trial lawyer who has won justice for countless victims of serious injury, discrimination, and medical malpractice. Known for his relentless advocacy, compassion, and proven results, he’s the attorney clients trust when everything is on the line. Ira Sherman's Bio Joseph Cammarata Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia A dual board-certified civil trial attorney, **Joseph Cammarata** is nationally recognized for his fierce advocacy, landmark legal victories, and relentless pursuit of justice for victims of serious injury, wrongful death, sexual assault, and civil rights violations. With wins against powerful opponents—including a historic U.S. Supreme Court case securing equal access to justice—he’s the attorney clients trust when they need skill, strength, and results that matter. Joe Cammarata's Bio Allan M. Siegel​ Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia **Allan M. Siegel** is a board-certified trial attorney and partner at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., known for securing justice in serious personal injury, brain injury, and wrongful death cases. Recognized as one of Washington’s *Top 100 Super Lawyers®* and a *Best Lawyer®* in America, he combines strategic precision, courtroom skill, and relentless advocacy to win full and fair compensation for his clients. Allan Siegel's Bio Stephen Ollar Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia **Stephen Ollar** is an award-winning trial attorney and U.S. Army veteran dedicated to holding negligent individuals and corporations accountable. Recognized as a *Super Lawyers Rising Star* from 2020–2025, he’s known for his tenacity, precision, and unwavering pursuit of justice in personal injury, auto accident, and medical malpractice cases. Stephen Ollar's Bio ## Related Articles Read More Blog Articles Why Some Insurance Companies Take Longer to Settle After a Car Accident in Washington, DC Washington, DC Tint Laws Why Insurance Companies Lowball Car Accident Settlements in Washington, DC Economic VS Non-Economic Damages In Washington, DC Car Accident Cases How Speeding Affects Liability In a Washington, DC Car Accident Case Car Accident Lawyer Arlington, VA Should You Talk To the Other Person’s Insurance Company? 100 Deadliest Days of Summer How To Deal With Insurance Adjusters [](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2021/12/liability-and-umbrella-insurance-protects-you-and-your-family/) Brain Injury Liability and Umbrella Insurance Protects You and Your Family As we enter a new year, it is the perfect opportunity to take stock of Read More » 12/16/2021 [](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2021/08/the-courts-have-reopened-and-the-doors-are-wider-than-ever/) Car Accidents The Courts Have Reopened and the Doors are Wider Than Ever For months, the coronavirus pandemic practically shut down the courts in the District of Columbia, Read More » 08/25/2021 [](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2021/08/law-firm-receives-super-lawyers-awards-for-11th-consecutive-year/) Car Accidents Law Firm Receives Super Lawyers Awards for 11th Consecutive Year The 2021 Washington, DC Super Lawyers® annual list of “Top Lawyers” was recently featured in Read More » 08/25/2021 [](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2021/08/school-bus-safety/) Bus Accidents School Bus Safety There are more than 471,000 school buses on the roads every day. 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