Liability in Bus Accidents

Who is liable for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered in a bus accident? The answer to this question depends on the details surrounding the incident. Overall, to establish liability for an accident, the four elements of negligence must be present – duty of care, breach of duty, cause, and harm. That is, a party or entity owes a duty of care (the specific duty of care will vary based on the party or entity). There is a breach of duty that directly contributes to an incident, which leads to harm. In other words, the harm suffered can be directly attributed to the breached duty of care. When all four elements are present, the victim can pursue a claim against the liable party or entity.

But who is liable for the accident? As previously mentioned, liability depends on the details surrounding the incident. Consider the different parties or entities that could be liable for bus accidents:

• Bus companies – bus companies have the duty to ensure that their buses are safe to be on the road and that their drivers are capable of safely driving their buses. Whether a bus company fails to address the known mechanical issues on their buses or fails to ensure that their drivers are qualified/trained to drive their buses, the bus company could be liable. Additionally, if their drivers (which are their employees) act recklessly and contribute to an accident, the bus company could be liable based on vicarious liability.
• Drivers – other drivers on the road, those not affiliated with the bus, could also be liable. This is because all drivers have a duty of care to other drivers on the road. If drivers are reckless, drive distracted, drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or do anything else that could contribute to an accident, they could be liable. If the drivers are driving for work or driving a company vehicle, the employer could be liable as well.
• City/county agencies – city and county agencies, such as the transportation agencies responsible for maintaining roads, can be liable for bus accidents. Defective roads, defective traffic signals, and poorly lit intersections, for example, can all contribute to accidents. These hazards represent a breached duty of care towards all parties on the road.
• Mechanics – mechanics can sometimes be liable for accidents. Specifically, they can contribute to mechanical failures that can lead to accidents. Mechanics have the duty to perform their work to the best of their abilities; if they fail to do so, they are putting others in danger.

For more information about liability for bus accidents, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm as soon as possible.

What Should You Do?

Were you or a member of your family injured in a bus accident? If so, there are a number of things that you should do to ensure that you can hold the negligent party or entity accountable for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered. Consider some of the recommendations that follow:

• Seek medical care as soon as possible
• Take photos of all injuries (before and after treatment)
• Take photos/video of the scene of the bus accident
• Report the accident to the bus company
• If applicable, report the accident to your insurance company (only provide facts)
• File an accident report with the appropriate authorities
• Speak to any witnesses
• Gather all relevant medical records
• Gather all records of property damage (if applicable)
• Gather any video footage that captured the incident
• Seek legal assistance as soon as possible

For more information about the importance of following the steps listed above, contact our firm as soon as possible. Our bus accident lawyers are ready to guide you every step of the way.

You Can Sue and be Awarded Compensation

Based on the details surrounding the bus accident claim, you could sue and recover monetary compensation for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered. Although the specific amount of compensation that you could recover will vary, the categories available for recovery could include some of the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages

If you are interested in learning more about the type and amount of compensation that you could recover if your claim is successful, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our firm today. Our lawyers are ready to aggressively fight for your right to recover the highest amount of compensation available for your bus accident claim. You can trust our lawyers to work tirelessly for your right to recover what you are owed.

You Must File Your Claim Quickly

All claims, including bus accident claims, are subject to a statute of limitations that determines the specific length of time that claimants have to sue; if claimants do not file their claims on time, they could lose their right to sue. In general, personal injury claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations (which gives claimants two years to pursue their claims). However, if your claim involves a government entity, such as a LA Metro, your claim must be filed within six months (directly with the government entity). After your claim is rejected by the government entity, you will have only one year to pursue your civil claim. To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the deadline that applies to your bus accident claim, contact the experts at our firm today. Our bus accident lawyers will help you file your claim on time.

Contact Downtown L.A. Law Group Today

Are you ready to discuss your claim with the bus accident lawyers at our firm? If so, you should contact the personal injury lawyers at our firm as soon as possible. The experts at our firm are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to hold the liable party or entity accountable for the harm that you suffered. Our bus accident attorneys are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to reach a successful claim outcome. Do not hesitate to contact our firm today.

Our firm offers free legal services, which ensure that affected parties have access to the information that they need to pursue their claim. Specifically, our firm offers free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will answer all your questions and address all your concerns. You can trust that our lawyers will provide you with the information necessary to either start or continue your bus accident claim. If you would like to benefit from our free legal services, contact our firm as soon as possible.

Our firm offers a Zero-Fee guarantee, which means that our clients will not be required to pay any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Additionally, our contingency structure, ensures that our clients will not have to pay anything until after reaching a successful claim outcome. In other words, if you do not win, you will not be required to pay anything.

Are you ready to speak with our experts regarding your bus accident claim? If so, contact our firm today.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Bus Accident Attorney FAQ
Bus passenger Injury Attorney
Bus Pedestrian Accident Attorney