Although school buses and public transit buses are considered to be a safe way for both children and adults to get to where they need to go, there’s always a possibility of an accident. Sadly, in these bus accidents, children or adults may suffer serious injuries or even lose their lives. A bus crash with another vehicle isn’t necessary for someone to be injured on their bus. In some cases, a slip and fall accident while boarding or exiting the bus can cause grave harm to the victim. And even with strict rules and regulations to cushion school-going children and public transit passengers from injuries, these accidents continue to occur.
If you or your child has been injured in a bus accident, it’s important to understand how the crash happened. This not only gives you a sense of closure with the events, but it also forms the basis on which you file a personal injury claim for compensation. And while you may litigate your own case, the chances of obtaining adequate compensation without a qualified attorney very minimal. To help you right away, you should retain a Friendswood bus accident lawyer from Lone Star Injury Attorneys.
The necessity of filing a bus accident claim is based on several factors. One, your injuries must be serious enough to warrant medical care. This means that it may be difficult for an attorney to take your case for minor injuries like bruises or scratches with no medical treatment. But if you or your child broke his/her arm, injured their spine, or suffered head injuries, hiring a bus crash attorney should be your most important decision.
Secondly, the type of accident can determine whether to hire a lawyer or not. For example, if the crash resulted from the negligence of the bus driver or other parties, your case becomes more likely to be successful, as intentional acts by drivers are more difficult to recover damages. In this case of driver negligence, you may need a qualified Friendswood attorney to guide and walk you through the legal process.
Lastly, if you or your child’s injuries were caused by a government-owned bus, it is extremely important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible. The government actor presents a new set of rules, and as expected, suing the government can be financially and emotionally draining with more requirements and deadlines to meet. Retaining a highly-credentialed lawyer can help you protect your legal rights, increasing your ability to obtain maximum compensation for your or your child’s injuries.
Liability is often based on negligence. If you wish to pursue claims, you must prove that the party you’re suing was negligent in one way or another. Depending on the cause of the accident, any of the following parties may be held responsible:
Drivers must always act responsibly to ensure the safety of their passengers and other road users. Drunk driving is prohibited, and any driver found to have been drunk at the time of the accident may be held liable for the accident. Speeding, careless driving, or distracted driving may also be a cause for bus crashes.
Bus manufacturers have a duty of care towards their clients, which in this case is whichever company or government entity purchased the buses. The bus manufacturer must guarantee the safety of their vehicles and products by using high-quality parts during assembly or maintenance.
Poor road designs and conditions may also play a role in bus accidents. Potholes, sharp corners, and uneven road surfaces can result in an accident, injuring and killing bus occupants in the process.
Other parties likely to be at fault for bus wrecks include:
Investigating how the accident occurred is the backbone of your case. Your attorney may hire experts such as accident reconstructionists to help re-create the events leading to the bus crash.
If you or your child suffered harm in a bus accident in Friendswood, a skilled lawyer can help you seek economic and non-economic damages such as:
The type of damages available in your case will be dependent on the unique circumstances under which you or your child were injured, as well as the severity of harm caused. You may also recover damages if you’ve lost a loved one in the crash by filing a wrongful death claim.
Our lawyers at Lone Star Injury Attorneys understand that if you or your child were injured in a crash, you may be confused and traumatized. We will help clear the stress and confusion by pursuing justice on your behalf or on behalf of your child. Contact our offices today to schedule a free consultation with a Friendswood bus accident lawyer.
