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Bus Accident As Personal Injury Lawsuit: 4 Things To Know

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Posted: 9th September 2022 by
Lawyer Monthly
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A lot of people depend on the professionalism and care of bus drivers and bus companies that employ, train, and service their vehicles. 

A lot of people depend on the professionalism and care of bus drivers and bus companies that employ, train, and service their vehicles. 

What Is Negligence?

Accidents involving passengers and motorists can occur when a bus driver acts negligently, such as the following: 

  • Neglecting to properly maintain equipment; 
  • Driving too quickly; 
  • Following too closely, or other negligent action or omission. 

Since buses can carry many people at once, their drivers and corporations that employ them bear the ultimate responsibility for everyone's safety on the road. Because of this, safety should be one of their top priorities.

How Do Bus Accidents Happen?

Several factors can contribute to bus accidents, including carelessness on the part of drivers, bus companies' cutting corners, and lenient county rules. If someone or some company's negligence led to an incident, they must pay the costs and fix the damage they caused. Victims and their loved ones owe it to society to seek justice to deter such tragedies.

The survivors of the accident may have to deal with the tragedy alone. However, filing a wrongful death case will give the family a chance to seek justice and financial compensation for their loss. Compensation cover such costs as burial or cremation fees, lost wages, and emotional anguish. 

The following are some of the most law-based answers to the question: Can you sue a bus company for injury?

1 - Can You Sue A Bus Company For Injury?

 ‘Yes, you can sue a bus company if you were hurt in a bus accident and submit a personal injury claim for your medical expenses and other losses.’ 

A good lawyer can increase your chances of getting compensation following a bus accident. Bus drivers are required by law to have significantly more comprehensive insurance than regular car owners. All bus passengers, drivers, and vehicles are protected by this policy.

However, bus insurance policies have several complexities that affect how they pay for the damage in an accident. Many policies provide coverage for each passenger up to a predetermined maximum. Some systems distribute a sum of money equally across all passengers, who must submit claims from the same fund. Passengers who suffer catastrophic injuries, like brain damage or paralysis, may find it more difficult to receive compensation under such a system because there may not be enough money in the pool to compensate for their losses. 

That's why you must contact a bus accident lawyer immediately after the accident. A bus accident lawyer can analyze the policy held by the bus company's insurer, ascertain the limits and restrictions, and devise a strategy to maximize your compensation under the policy's terms. 

2 - In The Event Of A Bus Accident, What Compensation Options Do I Have?

There can be significant outlays after a car crash. It’s possible to seek compensation for the following losses in a bus accident case.’ 

However, this will be contingent on the nature of your collision and the severity of your injuries:

  • Medical Expenses

All examinations, medications, and doctor's visits related to your injury are considered medical expenses. In a personal injury lawsuit, you can include all of your medical bills, past, present, and future.

  • Loss Of Income

If you were injured and had to miss time from work, you may be eligible for compensation. Your claim may also include compensation for lost earning potential if the accident required you to change jobs or accept a lower-paying position at work.

  • Property Damage

If you were in a car and hit a bus, there’s a high chance of damaging your car. You could get money as compensation to fix or replace your car. If the bus accident damaged or destroyed any of your personal belongings, you might be able to claim those costs under the company's insurance.

  • Pain And Suffering

Bus accident lawyers can help start and end the legal process so you get the compensation you deserve to recoup economic and non-economic damages and move on with your life after the tragedy.

3 - Who Can Be Held Liable In A Bus Accident?

Plaintiffs need to identify who is at fault in the event of a bus accident. Before filing a lawsuit over the bus accident, you should determine who was at fault.’

Those at fault in bus crashes may include:

  • Owner/operator/driver of a bus;
  • Managerial/Supervisory role of the bus driver;
  • Passengers and drivers of vehicles;
  • Companies that fix buses;
  • The local government agency or state bureau;
  • The property owner of a bus station;
  • Bus and bus parts manufacturing companies;
  • Factors including those involved in the accident, the injured party's car, the victim's behavior;
  • Alternative and contextual evidence

4 - How Can A Bus Accident Lawyer Help?

Simply put, those who engage lawyers to defend them in bus accident cases almost always come out ahead financially compared to those who try to handle the matter on their own.’ 

Bus accident lawyers are paid only if they win the client's case. In other words, they don't get paid unless their clients do. They charge a percentage of the funds they successfully collect on behalf of their customer, which is a fee. The service is entirely free to the customer.

By agreeing to work on a contingency basis, clients can rest assured their lawyers will do all their power to maximize their financial recovery. It’s in the best interests of the client and the lawyer to pursue every possible avenue of compensation.

Conclusion

After suffering significant injuries in a bus accident, you may be unable to deal with the administrative requirements of filing a personal injury claim. An experienced lawyer can look into the specifics of the bus accident to ascertain the causes. A lawyer specializing in bus accidents will spend considerable time analyzing these variables and often recruit professionals for accident reconstruction.

Responsibility and obligation under the law may result from an incident involving the carelessness of the bus driver, bus company, bus manufacturer, or a government entity.

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