Bus accidents often result in severe and even life-threatening injuries. Passengers are often thrown from their seats and into walls, windows, and even each other because of the bus’s immense size and frequent lack of seat belts.
If you or someone you love has been hurt or killed in a bus accident because of the carelessness of another person, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries.
The team at Bressman Law is here to help you navigate the complex process of filing a claim in your bus accident. To see how the bus accident lawyers serving Marysville on our team can help you, contact us now at (614) 538-1116.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
There are numerous causes of bus accidents; however, some of the most common we have seen are:
Driver Fatigue
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 25 adult drivers reports having fallen asleep behind the wheel in the last 30 days. They also reported that bus drivers are among those most likely to drive drowsy.
Aggressive Driving
According to the estimates by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, millions of drivers engage in aggressive behavior each year. More than 50% are reported to have engaged in tailgating, and 24% have tried to block another vehicle from changing lanes.
Speeding
Buses are held to strict schedules, and when traffic, weather, road construction, or something else causes a delay, it can be tempting to speed to make up for the lost time. However, because of their massive size, it takes longer for a bus to slow or stop, which is why speeding can be particularly dangerous for buses.
Unruly Passengers
A bus driver is responsible for maintaining order on a bus. If a passenger becomes aggressive or unruly, he or she has the right to eject the passenger or contact the police for assistance. If the drive fails to do this or delays in taking the proper measures, the passenger can injure other passengers or distract the driver and cause a collision.
Violation of Hours of Service
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict regulations about hours of service for passenger-carrying drivers. Drivers are limited to a maximum of 10 hours of driving after eight consecutive hours off duty, but sometimes drivers exceed these limits.
These are just a few of the possible causes of bus accidents. If you have been hurt in a bus accident, you may have the right to compensation for your injuries. Call Bressman Law at (614) 538-1116 for a free review of your claim.
For a free legal consultation with a bus accident attorney in Marysville, call (614) 538-1116
Determining Liability in a Bus Accident
One of the things that makes bus accident cases particularly complex is that it is not always clear who is liable for the accident. In many cases, there are actually numerous parties who are at fault, including the:
- Bus driver and bus company: If the accident is caused by the negligence of the bus driver, both the driver and the company that employs them will likely be liable. This is because under vicarious liability laws the employer is responsible for the negligent actions of the employee within the scope of employment. The liable employers could be a charter company, metro transit authority, or even a school district.
- Maintenance company: If the accident occurred because the bus was improperly maintained, the company that performed the maintenance may be liable.
- Manufacturer: If the accident was caused by a defect in one or multiple parts, the manufacturer should be held liable for damages.
Marysville Bus Accident Attorney (614) 538-1116
Types of Damages You May Recover After a Bus Accident
Whether your injuries were minor or life-altering, the costs associated with any injuries you sustained in a bus accident can quickly add up. While every case is different, some of the common types of damages that victims are able to recover after bus accidents include:
- Medical expenses such as ambulance transportation, emergency room visits, doctor’s examinations, surgical procedures, physical therapy treatments, and medication
- Lost wages from time away from work
- Future wages if you have lost your earning potential
- Repair or replacement of personal property
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Wrongful Death
If your loved one did not survive because of the severity of their injuries, you may be entitled to specific damages in a wrongful death suit, including:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of support and protection
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
Click to contact our Marysville Personal Injury Lawyers today
How Our Bus Accident Lawyers Serving Marysville Can Help
Identifying the liable party, providing negligence, and successfully navigating the claims process for a bus accident case can be complex, and any mistakes can waste time and quickly become costly.
Our bus accident lawyers serving Marysville can help by explaining the laws that apply to your case and what your best options may be for recovering compensation.
Our team investigates bus accidents and knows what to look for and the right questions to ask. We can send a spoliation letter as soon as possible after the accident, requesting that they preserve any evidence related to your case, including the hours logged by the bus driver, onboard computers, and any surveillance cameras that were on the bus. In addition, we can gather police reports, eyewitness statements, photos from the scene, and traffic camera footage.
We also know how to act quickly when there are short deadlines in place, protecting your right to pursue compensation for your injuries. Our team is not afraid to take on a local bus company, the Central Ohio Transit Authority, or the school district to hold them liable for the damages their driver caused.
For a free evaluation of your claim, contact Bressman Law today at (614) 538-1116. Learn how a bus accident attorney serving Marysville can help you today.
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