Injured in a Bus Accident? – Contact us immediately for a FREE CONSULTATION!
Injuries that Can Result from Bus Accidents
According to data, The body part most often affected is the head, followed by the trunk, legs, and the entire body.
Aside from lacerations, other common injuries after a bus accident include:
- Broken bones
- Scrapes & bruises
- Sprains & strains
- Concussion
- Internal injury
- Dislocation
- Burns
- Shock
- Loss of limb / amputation
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
Violation of Federal or State Law
Bus accidents are often caused by driver negligence, including using a cell phone while driving, being too tired to drive safely, not paying attention to the road or other vehicles on the road, driving while intoxicated, or just simply driving poorly.
In addition to negligence, a driver may have violated federal or state laws:
- Hours of Driving. Federal laws limit charter bus drivers from driving more than 10 hours at a time. The laws, which have been adopted by most states, require drivers to take eight hours off in a work cycle where they drive 10 hours.
- DUI or DWI. Federal and state laws address the issue of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Speeding. In every state there are laws regarding the speed limit. States often require buses and other commercial vehicles to drive at slower speeds.
- Turning and Passing. All states have turning and passing laws. Some states have special laws for buses and other commercial vehicles.
- Right of Way. All states have right-of-way laws, and the violation of these laws is one of the primary causes of bus accidents and other commercial vehicle accidents.
- Failure to Pay Attention. Bus drivers are held to a higher standard both in case law and statutory law. Some states have specific laws requiring bus drivers and other commercial vehicles to use extra caution and pay more attention to what is happening around them. Also, pedestrians, people in wheel chairs and others are given extra protection in some states, which require all drivers to pay special attention to them.
This is important: if a driver violates this or any other state or federal law, that driver will most likely be found negligent, and the driver, his or her employer, and the owner of the bus will be legally responsible to compensate injury victims and their families. Usually, the insurance companies pay settlement and verdict amounts.
Who can be sued for a bus crash injury or death?
To determine who can be sued (and it is often more than one party), your bus crash attorney will need to consider the specific facts of your case. Possible parties you may be able to sue include the following:
- Bus driver: Our attorneys look at whether the bus driver was tired, distracted, poorly trained or on drugs. We also obtain information regarding the driver’s past accidents and traffic violations.
- The owner of the bus: This could be an individual, a tour or charter bus company, a school district, a metro transit bus company, a church or another organization.
- The company that maintained the bus: This could be the owner of the bus or another company, including a company that specializes in bus maintenance.
- The manufacturer of the bus or any bus part: If your bus accident involved a bus with a defective part, you many have claims against the company that maintained the bus, the manufacturer of the bus and/or the manufacturer of the specific defective part (brakes, for example). These cases usually involve product liability claims.
- A construction company, county or municipality: Depending on the facts, a highway construction and maintenance company, county or municipality may be liable for accidents that happen in a construction zone or due to a road hazard. These cases can involve complex laws of liability.
- The driver and owner of another vehicle: If another vehicle was also at fault for your accident, you will have claims against the driver, the owner of that vehicle (auto, semi trailer, another bus). In cases involving semi trucks, the semi driver, trucking company and owner of the freight are some of the parties that may be sued.
Contact Our Bus Accident Attorneys
Due to the unique size and facts surrounding bus accidents, often severe and life-altering injuries occur. If your family has been affected by a bus accident, our bus accident law firm may be able to help. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and more.
Contact The Boerst Law Office ASAP
The attorneys at The Boerst Law Office have an extraordinary reputation they have earned through many, many years of practice. We are proud to defend our clients using our extensive knowledge, dedication to law and passion for the pursuit of justice.
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