Peoria Bus Accident Critically Injured Pedestrian by 79th Avenue and Grand Avenue

Small Bus Involved in Serious Injury Pedestrian Accident in Peoria by the Intersection of 79th Avenue and Grand Avenue

PEORIA, ARIZONA (February 23, 2026) – A pedestrian was seriously injured in a Peoria bus accident near the intersection of 79th Avenue and Grand Avenue.

Maricopa County officials are saying that the accident took place around 7:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. A pedestrian was struck by a small white unmarked bus along the side of the road.

Photos of the accident site showed the bus with major front-end damage. Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim.

The pedestrian was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. A full investigation into the Peoria bus accident remains ongoing.

Liability for Peoria Bus Accidents

Buses are considered common carriers in Arizona. They must operate with a great deal of caution to avoid hitting pedestrians and other vehicles. Pursuant to AZ Rev Stat § 28-794, “every driver of a vehicle shall:  1. Exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian on any roadway.  2. Give warning by sounding the horn when necessary.  3. Exercise proper precaution on observing a child or a confused or incapacitated person on a roadway.” There are many reasons that buses can be particularly dangerous to pedestrians.

• Blind Spots: Buses have large blind spots all around the vehicle. These can obscure the presence of pedestrians and even smaller cars.
• Turning Radius: Buses tend to have a wide turning radius. This poses a severe risk of injury or death to nearby pedestrians on sidewalks or crosswalks.
• Stopping Distance: A fully loaded bus can weigh as much as 40,000 pounds. It can take a great deal of time to bring these vehicles to a safe stop.
• High Ground Clearance: Most buses have a high ground clearance. In many situations, this can lead to pedestrians being run over after getting pulled underneath the bus.

If a bus driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting any pedestrian on the roadway, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a collision could extend beyond any bus drivers deemed to be at fault. Their employer could also be legally responsible for any resulting injuries or death. Generally speaking, employers can be vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their–insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties.

Steps to Take After Peoria Bus Accidents

Many pedestrians are killed or seriously injured in accidents with buses each year. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year.” It is important that certain actions are taken after any bus accident.

• Medical Treatment: Victims should seek medical treatment as early as possible. Many injuries associated with bus accidents will not be immediately obvious.
• Police Report: The police report for the accident should be collected and reviewed. These reports represent an officer’s initial impression of what took place. But they can also contain inaccuracies.
• Surveillance Footage: Surveillance footage that may have captured the accident should be sought. This footage could come from traffic cameras. It may also come from nearby businesses.
• Legal Review: Any person injured in a bus accident should seek the guidance of an experienced bus accident attorney. An attorney can help identify all liable parties and hold them accountable.

Pedestrian accidents involving buses are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where bus drivers are not paying adequate attention to the road ahead of them. Bus drivers are supposed to scan the roadway and slow down to avoid potential hazards. But in far too many situations, this does not take place. Any person injured due to the negligent actions of a bus driver may be able to pursue some measure of accountability through a personal injury claim.

Investigating Peoria Bus Accidents

We at The Law Offices of John Phebus extend our best wishes to the pedestrian injured in this Peoria bus accident. It is our sincere hope that the victim will be able to make a full recovery. Any person who may have information about what happened should reach out to the police. Many questions remain unanswered. What was the speed of the bus prior to the collision? What is the safety record of the company that owns the bus?

Do you need more information about a Peoria bus accident? Our team of bus accident investigators is here for you. We are committed to helping victims of bus accidents get the medical and financial resources that they need to move forward with their lives. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we’re here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (623) 267-9283.