Many people use buses as their primary means of transportation. Others only use buses occasionally. Yet, both of these categories of people are at risk of suffering injuries during their bus trips.
In addition to bus riders, pedestrians and people driving their own vehicles can be hit by buses. If you have been the victim of a bus accident, the damage is likely substantial. Do not hesitate to seek compensation for your damages.
A Conyers personal injury lawyer can help you get started with a bus accident claim.
Bus Accident Causes
Bus accidents occur for a number of reasons. Understanding why the bus accident that injured you happened can help you build a strong legal case in your pursuit of compensation. Remember, there is no single cause for every bus accident, so be prepared to weigh all contributing factors with the help of a bus accident lawyer in Conyers.
Here are some potential reasons why your bus accident may have happened:
Negligent Bus Drivers
When using public roads, drivers are required to administer a standard duty of care that involves acting safely and reasonably. This rule applies to all drivers, including bus drivers. They may be deemed negligent when they do not administer this standard duty of care.
Examples of negligence include instances wherein bus drivers disobey or ignore laws to reach their destinations faster. A driver would also be negligent if they drove recklessly and endangered the lives of their passengers and other road users.
Distracted Bus Drivers
Driving a motor vehicle requires significant focus and concentration. If a bus driver gets distracted while on the road, they may not notice exactly what is happening in the area around them. This often leads to accidents that were otherwise avoidable.
In the case of bus drivers, distractions may involve people speaking to them while they are trying to drive, their minds wandering away from their duties, or them using a smartphone while they drive. All of these situations are dangerous, so if you can prove that the driver was engaged in them, you may easily prove that they are at fault for your injuries.
Inexperienced Bus Drivers
Buses can be incredibly large. Therefore, they require significant training to operate properly. Without enough training, a bus driver may engage in hazardous behaviors that put them at risk of causing accidents.
If it is found that the driver was allowed to operate a bus without adequate training, the bus company may be liable.
Bus Component Failure
A bus is a complex machine with many components. If one of the components fails, the bus may be difficult or impossible to control properly. This sometimes causes accidents that were potentially avoidable.
The organization that owns the bus is required to perform routine maintenance to detect issues, and if they did not, they could be liable for damages the bus caused.
Get the strong arm
File a Bus Accident Claim to Recover Compensation
To recover compensation for damages associated with a bus accident that you were a victim of, you need to file a claim against the bus driver, bus company, or their insurer. Because these accidents can be catastrophic due to the size and speed of buses, you stand to recover a significant amount of compensation based on the circumstances. Regardless of whether you were a bus passenger or another driver, you should be eligible to file a claim today.
The first step toward filing a bus accident claim is speaking to a Conyers bus accident attorney. They will guide you through the process of collecting evidence from the scene of the accident and any local cameras. Your bus accident attorney in Conyers will also assess the circumstances of the incident to determine who was at fault.
With their assistance, you should be able to find out why the accident happened and who was responsible for it. Another critical aspect of preparing to file a bus accident claim is documenting and evaluating your damages. If you suffered significant injuries or property damage, the expenses associated with treatment and repair will be included.
There are also other forms of damages that you may be eligible to recover.
Liability in Bus Accident Cases
When bus accidents happen, there are several parties that could be held liable for damages. Filing a bus accident claim will therefore require you to take action against a number of parties. This makes many bus accident claims incredibly complex, so you will usually need a Conyers bus accident lawyer to succeed.
The bus driver may have made a critical mistake that led to the accident, but the bus company that employs them could still be responsible for their actions. In instances where a maintenance issue was the root cause of the accident, either the bus company or maintenance provider could be liable. This makes it very hard to recover compensation sometimes, especially when the bus is owned and operated by a government organization.
Compensation Available in Bus Accident Claims
Your Conyers bus accident lawyer can help you recover economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault parties. Your economic damages include monetary losses that are easily quantifiable. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are losses that are not tangible and must be estimated based on the severity of your injuries and assumptions made about your quality of life.
Examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- The income you are unable to earn
- Lost opportunities
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma or distress
Recover the Compensation You Are Due
Having been injured in a bus accident, you may now need to pursue claims against several parties at once. This is a complex task that we do not recommend you take on without the aid of a Conyers bus accident lawyer.
John Foy & Associates is prepared to help you fight for your rights. Use the contact form on this page to get in touch with us immediately.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form