If a negligent bus driver causes an accident in Ohio and you suffer injuries, you may be able to file a claim and collect compensation for your damages. At Bressman Law, we can help you evaluate the strength of your case, calculate your damages, and file your claim. If this is not successful in getting the fair payout you deserve, we can file a personal injury lawsuit against the bus company on your behalf. Call our office today at (614) 538-1116 for your free one-on-one case evaluation with a bus accident lawyer in Gahanna.
Ohio attorney David Bressman understands the laws that apply to bus drivers, both in the public sector and those driving private carriers. He can explain your options for getting compensation and fight for the full payout you deserve.
Recoverable Damages After a Gahanna Bus Accident
Imagine you left your vehicle at Royal Plaza Park & Ride and are taking a Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) bus into Columbus for work. As you ride down I-670, your bus driver fails to check his blind spots before changing lanes. Without signaling, he moves into the next lane and collides with another vehicle. Your laptop goes flying, and you suffer a broken arm.
Even with relatively minor injuries, the costs can add up quickly. In an I-670 accident like this, your damages might include:
- Ambulance transportation to the nearest hospital;
- Emergency department care;
- A visit to an orthopedic doctor;
- Physical therapy;
- Repair or replacement of your laptop; and
- Related out-of-pocket costs, such as the cab fare back to your vehicle.
Of course, much more serious injuries can occur. In addition, not all victims of these accidents are passengers on a bus. Others who may suffer injuries because of the negligent actions of a bus driver could include:
- A motorist sharing the road with the bus;
- A pedestrian crossing the road; or
- A cyclist riding a bike nearby.
In these situations, you could also take action against the bus company and collect compensation to cover your economic and non-economic losses to the maximum extent possible.
For a free legal consultation with a bus accident attorney in Gahanna, call (614) 538-1116
Identifying the Liable Party in a Bus Accident
A legal theory called respondeat superior applies to most bus accident cases where the driver causes the crash. This theory allows us to file a claim and hold the employer accountable for the negligent actions of an employee if they were behind the wheel of a company bus at the time of the crash.
This plays an important role in getting the full value of your damages. Bus companies usually have much larger liability insurance policies than any individual driver could afford. Since a bus accident can cause injuries to many people at the same time, a larger policy means more people can get the compensation they need and deserve.
Gahanna Bus Accident Attorney (614) 538-1116
Filing a Bus Accident Claim in Central Ohio
Before we pursue compensation on your behalf, our bus accident lawyers need to understand the business that operates the bus in question. The way we proceed depends heavily on the type of bus company involved.
Privately Owned Buses
Tour companies and private carriers operate buses in and around Gahanna. If this was the type of bus involved in your accident, we can probably pursue compensation by filing a third-party auto insurance claim based on their liability insurance coverage. In most cases, the insurance company is willing to negotiate a fair settlement. Only occasionally do we need to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover the damages you deserve.
Public Transportation Buses
The COTA has routes all over Central Ohio, including a Park & Ride program in Gahanna. In general, government agencies like COTA have immunity from lawsuits. However, the Ohio Political Subdivision Tort Liability Act limits this immunity when it comes to government employees causing a crash in a public transportation bus.
While there are strict time limits that apply and we have to follow a very specific process, we can request compensation from COTA for your damages. If the organization refuses an acceptable payout, a bus accident lawyer can take your case to Gahanna court and request a judge to award you the money you deserve.
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Can you Sue for a School Bus Accident?
Buses from Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools and other local school systems fall under the same laws as a public transportation bus. We can file a claim, but we have a limited time to do so, and we must follow very specific procedures. Contact us for more information about how to pursue this type of claim.
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Getting Help With Your Central Ohio Bus Accident Case
Understanding liability, proving negligence, and navigating the claims process makes handling a bus accident case more complex than most car accident cases. We encourage you to talk to an attorney before trying to file this type of claim on your own. We can explain the laws that apply to your case, and how they may affect the process and your payout amount.
Bus companies, whether public or private, often have a team of corporate attorneys who will do everything they can to pay you as little as possible. These cases frequently have short deadlines, meaning you do not have long to build a case against the bus company and prepare to go toe-to-toe with its legal team. This is not something we recommend without an experienced attorney by your side.
When you ask us to evaluate your situation and file your claim, you can feel confident you will get the personalized attention and driven representation you deserve. We will fight for the full value of compensation due to you, letting you focus on making a full physical recovery.
Talk to a Bus Accident Lawyer in Gahanna About Your Crash
At Bressman Law, we can manage every aspect of your Gahanna bus accident claim. We can take you through the process step-by-step, addressing your concerns, and actively pursuing the compensation you deserve. We will take on COTA, Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools, or any private bus operator if that is what it takes to get the money you need to pay your medical bills and cover your other damages. If you believe a bus driver caused your Gahanna bus crash, call us today at (614) 538-1116. We will review your case for free.
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