How Do I Recover Compensation After Being Hurt in a Bus Accident?

 Posted on February 24, 2020 in Bus Accident Injury

Public transportation is a convenient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly form of transportation for many Americans. Commuters riding a city bus to work, children aboard school buses, and other bus riders often assume that riding a bus is a safer alternative than other forms of transportation. While the vast majority of bus rides are completed without issue, major bus accidents do happen. Passengers involved in a bus accident can suffer devastating, sometimes fatal, personal injuries.

Determining Fault for Injuries Sustained in a Bus Accident

Just recently, three women were killed and 17 others were injured when the charter bus they were riding on rolled down an interstate embankment in California. The official cause of the crash has not yet been established, but it is likely that rainy conditions contributed to the bus driver losing control of the vehicle.

Determining liability in a bus crash is often very challenging—especially when multiple vehicles are involved in the accident. Bus drivers are held to a high standard of care and are expected to do everything in their power to prevent foreseeable passenger injuries. A bus driver may be liable for damages caused in a bus accident if he or she was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, using a cell phone while driving, or otherwise acting negligently. It is also possible that liability lies with the company the bus driver works for or the party responsible for bus maintenance. If the cause of a bus accident is a malfunctioning piece of equipment, the manufacturer of the bus or equipment may be legally responsible for damages caused in the accident. The liable party in a bus accident could also be the driver of another vehicle.

Damages Available to Injured Bus Passengers

Individuals involved in serious bus accidents can suffer burn injuries, broken bones, internal organ damage, brain and spine injuries, and more. They may sustain injuries that leave them permanently disabled and unable to work. Through a personal injury claim, individuals injured in a bus accident may be able to receive financial compensation for their damages. This can include compensation for emergency medical treatment, ongoing medical care, lost income, reduced employability, and more. The Illinois statute of limitations on personal injury claims is typically two years.

It is important to keep in mind that if the claim involves a government agency, the injured party must give notice of the claim within a year of the accident. Government agencies are often involved in bus accident cases, as city buses and school buses are usually operated under the supervision of a local or county municipality or a school district.

Contact a Lake County Bus Accident Lawyer

Pursuing any type of car accident claim can be complex. However, bus accidents and other accidents involving public transportation are often especially involved. If you or a loved one were hurt in a bus accident, speak with a knowledgeable Waukegan personal injury attorney from Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. Call us at 847-662-3303 today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Sources:

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-24/pasadena-woman-among-those-killed-in-bus-crash-on-i-15-in-san-diego

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1865&ChapterID=50