Bus passengers are not the only victims of bus accidents. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, and occupants of other motor vehicles also suffer serious injuries. Depending on the accident, many legal options are available to you.
Millions of people ride commercial bus lines to get from place to place. Bus passengers trust the bus driver to get them to their destination safely, primarily because bus drivers are held to a higher standard. Talk to a Canton personal injury lawyer from John Foy & Associates today.
Buses Are Large, Heavy, and Dangerous Vehicles
Buses are some of the most oversized vehicles on the road, which means they will cause some of the worst damage. A bus driver needs to have special training and different job duties than others on the road. Due to their higher standard of care, they can also hold higher liability when an accident occurs.
Since buses do cause substantial damage to different vehicles, many various parties will file a claim for a singular bus accident. Bus accident victims think that with so many parties suing the same person, their claims will be lower, but that is not the case.
Bus companies have larger insurance policy limits because regulators know these vehicles can cause substantial damage. Additionally, the other victims will not affect your lawsuit because you will have individual representation for your interests. However, you must hire a bus accident lawyer in Canton.
Get the strong arm
Why Bus Accident Cases Differ from Car Accidents
The primary reason a bus accident is different from a passenger vehicle accident is the size difference. Motor vehicle accidents are complex but not as tricky or contentious as bus accident cases. While in a motor vehicle accident, there is one primary entity to file a claim against, in bus accidents, there are several.
The three main entities you can file a lawsuit against are the bus driver, the insurance company, and the bus company.
Bus companies must hire and train their bus drivers. They must also maintain the vehicle and ensure it is safe to drive. The size of a bus makes it very difficult to maneuver, and if there is a faulty part, the bus driver may be unable to stop or avoid an accident.
When that is the case, the bus driver may not be the primary party bearing responsibility. To the untrained eye, the bus driver is the culprit. Still, once a Canton bus accident attorney conducts an official investigation into the circumstances, other reasons behind the accident will come to light.
Injuries From a Bus Accident Case
The severity of your bus accident injury will range. Some victims will walk away with minor injuries that heal in a few months, while others will be in pain for years. Victims will often suffer permanent impairment, making it impossible to live everyday life.
There are many ways an accident can happen, and the severity of your injury may rely on the bus driver’s actions. If they took the effort to avoid or minimize the impact, you might fare better than if they were strictly negligent in their actions.
Suppose there was a faulty braking system or another part. In that case, the bus driver may be unable to maneuver to avoid the accident, and the product manufacturer may be held liable. All of these factors can affect your injuries. Some common bus accident injuries include:
- Amputations
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord trauma
- Traumatic brain injury
- Emotional distress
- Soft tissue damage
You can suffer many other injuries and must ensure you get the proper medical treatment. Our bus accident attorney in Canton has a vast medical network of providers to ensure you get the treatment you deserve.
Damages You Can Recover in a Bus Accident Claim
Buses cause substantial damage to everyone around them when they strike. An innocent bystander can suffer serious injury when all they do is walk down the street. The more severe the bus accident injury is, the more compensation you can garner.
You cannot get compensation without completing a medical evaluation and reaching maximum medical improvement. Some of the damage you can recover from a bus accident are:
- Medical expenses such as physical therapy, hospitalizations, surgery, injections, emergency room visits, and medical equipment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Property damages
- Vehicle repairs
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced earning capacity
- Lost wages and benefits
The above list is not exhaustive. Depending on your loss, you can obtain many other damages from a bus accident claim. However, to receive any compensation, you must prove that your losses directly result from the bus accident.
You may be unaware of losses, but when you have a Canton bus accident lawyer, we will find every dollar the bus company owes you.
Why You Need a Canton Bus Accident Lawyer
You should not handle bus accidents without the help of a Canton bus accident lawyer. The insurance company is unreliable because they are working to save as much money as possible and ensure you do not get the payment you deserve for your losses.
One of the biggest hurdles in bus accident cases is witness accounts. Since there are likely many witnesses, they will have different stories of what happened. The truth will lie somewhere in between. To find the truth, your Canton bus accident lawyer will be able to:
- Gather evidence proving your claim
- Negotiate with insurance companies and another party on your behalf
- Handle all communications
- Find accurate witness accounts
- Work with accident reconstruction experts
- Uncover photos and surveillance videos helping your claim
- Represent you from the beginning to trial
Call a Canton Bus Accident Lawyer Today
Canton has two-year filing deadlines, so you cannot wait to file a lawsuit. Once the period passes, you lose your right to obtain compensation. Even if your case does move forward, you may not be able to get a fair settlement because a lot of critical evidence will be lost.
After a bus accident, contact a Canton bus accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates for a free, no-obligation consolation. You do not pay anything for your legal representation upfront because we do not get paid until we settle your case.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form