Dalton
Bus Accident Lawyer

Bus travel is convenient and affordable and, for the most part, safe. Still, bus accidents do happen and can leave you with injuries and property damage that bring changes to your life, abilities, and significant financial costs. To be fairly compensated for the losses you or a loved one has sustained from a bus accident, trust your case to a skilled bus accident lawyer in Dalton.

Bus Accident Injury Cases Are Different from Car Accident Injury Cases

If you are injured in any motor vehicle accident, the wisest course of action is to seek legal representation. The aftermath of an accident is always stressful, and recouping losses is less stressful and generally more successful with the help of an attorney. 

Bus accidents are more complicated than other motor vehicle accidents. The injuries and property damage you sustain may be similar, but the factors for determining who is responsible for your injuries are more varied. 

For example, did the accident occur on a school bus? A public bus? A private bus? The answer to this question, and others, affect how you proceed with your case.

By securing representation from a Dallas bus accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates, you can rest assured your lawyer will ask all necessary questions and find the answers you need to build a case.

Special Rules for Buses Can Affect Your Case

There are specific rules and regulations school districts, bus companies, and bus drivers must follow. Any failures in compliance can increase the strength of your case.

School Bus Regulations

The Dalton Public School system transports many of its 8,000 students enrolled in its 11 public schools through its school buses. 

School districts must comply with the requirements established in the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, including, among other requirements,

• Bus driver background checks
• Bus driver qualifications, licensing, and continued education
• Annual bus inspections by the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety
• Monthly inspection by local entities
• Number of passengers permitted on each bus

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Regulations

According to the FMCSA, bus travel is one of the most popular, cost-effective, and safe modes of transportation. Their strict regulations are a key factor in maintaining that safety. Under FMCSA rules, bus companies must ensure their drivers meet qualifications and adhere to behavior standards, such as refraining from texting while driving or driving under the influence. 

The FMCSA limits the number of hours a driver can work on consecutive days or within a seven-day or eight-day period. It also provides specific regulations for bus safety, inspection, and maintenance.

A Dalton bus accident attorney will examine the circumstances surrounding your accident to discover if the non-compliance by a school district, bus driver, or bus company is responsible for your accident and subsequent injuries. They will even take this investigation deeper to determine if poorly maintained roads, malfunctioning vehicle parts, or other factors contributed to your accident, and will hold the entities responsible for those factors accountable. 

Lawsuits Against Government-Operated Buses Are Complicated  

Sovereign immunity protects government entities from being sued. The government entity can only be sued if the government itself consents to the lawsuit. Prior to November 2020, when Georgia citizens voted to waive the policy, sovereign immunity made it difficult for those injured in accidents involving public, government-operated vehicles to sue for compensation.

Though the hurdle of sovereign immunity is cleared for such victims now, suing the government or government entities remains extremely complicated. There are pre-trial administrative proceedings you must fulfill which allow the government the chance to provide compensation without facing an actual lawsuit. Such proceedings are not required in suits against private citizens or companies.

Understanding the many regulations and successfully taking your claim through the various legal proceedings may seem overwhelming and with good reason. But there is no reason to be overwhelmed. A bus accident attorney in Dalton is well-prepared to attend to the details of your case and work toward a settlement that meets your needs.

Fight for a Settlement that Meets Your Needs

The damages you claim and the value of your settlement depend on a variety of factors that can differ from case to case. Common factors for bus accident damages include the severity and extent of your injuries, property damage, and the emotional trauma you have and may continue to experience. 

Extensive injuries can have lifelong costs attached, so your lawyer will review all medical reports and collect information about your progress and prognosis. Coverage of your medical expenses and wages lost during your recovery, or permanently should your injuries be especially severe, will be valued into your settlement. 

Emotional distress and diminished quality of life resulting from your accident are additional settlement factors. Experiencing limitations to your ability to care for yourself, engage with family and friends, or participate in other activities as you did before your accident often leads to feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Though intangible, these losses deserve compensation. 

A Dalton Bus Accident Lawyer Increases the Possibility of a High Settlement

Though you may feel as though you can handle your case on your own or just may not want to deal with another appointment, consulting with a lawyer is well worth your time and will likely bring you a higher settlement than if you work your case on your own.

Your lawyer’s expert knowledge of bus regulations and the legal process means they will not miss details or deadlines that could cost you some, or all, of the compensation you deserve.

You can trust your lawyer to collect thorough evidence and handle all communications and negotiations with at-fault parties and their representatives, keeping your best interests consistently at the forefront. That one additional appointment, with a lawyer from John Foy & Associates, will ultimately save you time, stress, and money.

We Are Ready to Fight for You

At John Foy & Associates, our goal is to secure a settlement acknowledging your pain, covering your financial losses, and providing financial security for you and your family for the long term. You can schedule a free consultation with a phone call or by sending an electronic message. We will work diligently to bring you the justice you deserve.