Bus Accident Lawyer
Every day in the United States, there are about 25 million children who ride 480,000 school buses each day. Hundreds of thousands of more buses – transit buses and private motor coaches – also take to the roads every day. It is these high numbers that account for the 65,000 bus accident that happen each year, leaving countless numbers of victims injured.
Obtaining financial compensation for bus accident injuries can be difficult because it is such a complicated process. Having a qualified bus accident attorney advocating for you can make all the difference in whether or not you are successful in your claim.
Bus Accidents
There are many different causes and types of bus accidents. The most common include the following:
- Other vehicle: Bus accident can be involved in an accident with another vehicle, including cars, trucks, other buses, and trains. The accident can be caused by bus driver error or negligence by the driver of the other vehicle.
- Objects: Some of the most horrific bus accidents have been occurred when the bus hit a bridge, walls, guardrails, utility poles, or trees. This can occur because of road or weather conditions, mechanical issues with the bus, or bus driver error.
- Slip and falls: Victims can also be injured on the bus because of a slip and fall accident caused by snow, ice, or spills. It is up to the bus company to ensure that areas where the public walks are kept clear of ice and water caused by bad weather, as well as mop up spills caused by other customers.
- Criminal acts: Failure of a bus company to provide security guards, cameras, and to conduct complete background checks on all their employees can result in victims being injured in some type of criminal act while they are on the bus or at the bus terminal.
There are two different categories of bus accident injuries. Soft injuries which usually heal quickly and hard injuries which are more severe, take longer to heal, and can leave the victim with permanent disabilities or even death. Some of the common soft bus accident injuries that can occur are:
- Bruises
- Bumps
- Cuts
- Scrapes
- Sprains
- Strains
- Whiplash
Some of the more common hard bus accident injuries are:
- Amputations
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Concussions and other brain injuries
- Fractured bones
- Herniated discs
- Internal injuries
- Scarring
- Spinal injuries
- Fatal injuries
Who Is Responsible for a Victim’s Financial Compensation?
If you were injured in a bus accident caused the driver of another vehicle, the claim for your injuries should be filed with that driver’s insurance company, similar to how you would file if you were in a standard car crash with this driver.
If you were injured in a bus accident and the bus driver was at fault for the crash, whether you were a passenger on the bus or an occupant of another vehicle, you will need to pursue your claim with the government entity that oversees that bus. This is a much more complicated process, dependent on the rules of the state you live in. This is why you should contact a bus accident lawyer to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.