Victims of bus accidents may experience long-term effects that disrupt their ability to work, enjoy life, and even perform daily activities. If you have been injured in a bus accident, there could be numerous liable parties if you pursue a personal injury claim.
An experienced attorney who understands bus accident claims could launch an investigation to determine whether the bus driver or company was negligent and explain your right to sue for compensation.
Bus accident victims have two years from the date of the accident to start a claim. If you miss the deadline, you may not be able to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other losses.
If you have been injured in a bus accident, you should consult with a lawyer as soon as possible. To sue a bus company or any other liable party for damages, you must demonstrate that they were negligent, meaning they failed to exercise reasonable care and that their negligence directly caused your injuries.
Evidence that can demonstrate negligence could include bus company records, the police report, and witness statements. Evidence from the accident scene and medical records that document your injuries and treatment could also be important to the case.
Bus crashes frequently involve school buses, city transit buses, and shuttle buses. The liable party could be the bus driver, the bus company, or other parties involved. The bus company the driver works for could also be legally responsible for the actions of its employee.
Bus companies that engage in negligent hiring practices or do not properly train drivers should be held accountable for their role in collisions. If a bus driver was driving distracted or violating other traffic laws, you have a right to seek damages from the appropriate insurance provider.
Other parties besides the bus company and driver could be liable for your damages in some cases. These parties could include the manufacturer of a defective bus part or other drivers involved in the accident. If the bus was operated by a government agency, the agency may be liable for damages, too.
Buses are a common sight throughout metropolitan areas, including school buses, private buses, and commercial buses. If you have suffered injuries in a bus crash as a passenger or after a bus struck your vehicle, an attorney can help you seek compensation for your injuries and other damages.
Depending on the situation, you might initially file a claim with the bus company’s insurance provider. If a settlement cannot be reached through negotiations, your lawyer could file a lawsuit against the bus company in court. If you have questions about filing a bus accident claim, give us a call today to speak with an attorney in a free, one-on-one case consultation.
