Bus Accident Lawyer
Millions of Americans take trips on buses every year. Each day more than a half million buses transport over 25 million children to school.
In addition, private motor coaches add to the total of buses on the road every day of every year. It is not surprising to note that there are well over 63,000 accidents every year involving buses.
Trying to recover damages that occurred as a result of a bus accident is more complicated than other types of accidents. If you find yourself in this situation, seek the assistance of a qualified attorney experienced in bus accidents. Attorneys have experience in dealing with such accidents and can advise you of your rights and how to proceed if you need to deal with insurance companies or a file a lawsuit to recover any damages suffered as a result of the accident.
Types of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can occur for several reasons including bus company negligence, bus driver error, inclement weather, or equipment failure. Accidents involving buses frequently occur because of:
- Collisions with solid objects such as bridges, walls, trees, or guardrails. These collisions could be a result of bad weather, bus-driver error, or mechanical errors
- Collisions with other vehicles such as another car, truck, train, or another bus. This usually involves negligence on the part of the bus driver or the driver of the other vehicle
- Criminal activity. The bus companies have a duty to take reasonable steps to avoid crimes involving their buses; however, it is impossible to offer a guarantee that no criminal activity will ever occur on their bus.
- Slip and fall. Inclement weather often unexpectedly occurs causing slippery conditions on or around the bus. These conditions cannot always be avoided although the bus company needs to take precautions to de-ice the exits and walkways. Bus service should also take necessary steps to cancel or delay services if the road conditions are not safe because of inclement weather.
Injuries Common in a Bus Accident
There are two basic types of injuries – ‘soft’ injuries that are not serious and quickly heal, and ‘hard’ injuries that are more serious, could be permanent or life-threatening.
Examples of soft injuries:
- Minor scrapes and contusions
- Bruises and bumps
- Whiplash
- Strains and sprains
Examples of hard injuries:
- Permanent scarring
- Broken bones
- Concussion and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Herniated disks and other spinal injuries
- Severed limbs
- Poisoning from carbon monoxide
- Injuries that are fatal
How Do you Collect Compensation for Your Injuries?
How and who you collect damages from in a bus accident depends on the cause. If the bus accident was the fault of the driver of another vehicle, you would file a claim with that driver’s insurance provider.
If the fault lies with the bus driver or the bus company, the claims work a bit differently. The driver or the company has to be guilty of negligence and that negligence caused your injuries.
Your best course of action is to contact a bus accident lawyer experienced in handling bus accidents. These types of cases can get complicated based on who owns the bus and the details of the accident. Your attorney can handle the intricacies involved in working with insurance companies and in the courtroom.
Source: bus accident lawyer in Baltimore, MD, Cohen Lawyers.