Being involved in a bus crash is perhaps one of the scariest kinds of accidents on the road. You might be a passenger on the bus or driving another vehicle when the accident happens, but serious injuries are highly likely either way.
Many bus accidents occur because of negligent bus drivers. Distractions behind the wheel, speeding, or a lack of bus driving experience or training are common factors. Given how serious bus accidents can be, it should be no surprise that damages in bus accident lawsuits are often substantial. Between your injuries, medical bills, and the trauma of the accident, you deserve significant compensation. Exactly who you should sue for damages and financial compensation might vary based on your accident. While bus drivers are often named in these lawsuits, their employers might share liability under certain circumstances. If the bus was part of a public transit network, governmental authorities might be implicated in the case.
If you were injured in a crash with a bus, call our bus accident lawyers at (844) 876-4357 and schedule a free review of your case with the team at Howe Law.
How and Why Bus Accidents Occur In Stonecrest, GA
How bus accidents might happen varies based on each case’s circumstances and conditions. In some accidents, the crash involves a head-on collision. Buses are extremely large and heavy, and they are capable of utterly decimating another vehicle in a head-on collision. Many drivers hit by buses in this way do not survive. Those that do are often left with debilitating injuries.
Other accidents are rollover accidents, where the bus topples over. If a driver or pedestrian is unfortunate enough to be next to the bus when this happens, they might be crushed. Rollover accidents often occur when drivers take sharp tunes at high rates of speed.
T-bone accidents are also common, but they are especially dangerous when it comes to buses. In some cases, other vehicles T-boned the bus because the bus driver entered an intersection when they should not have. Often, passengers on the bus are the ones most badly injured in T-bone accidents. Buses are very long, making them more susceptible to T-bone accidents.
Why bus accidents happen is the million dollar question. In some cases, the bus driver was distracted, perhaps by their phone or a talkative passenger. No matter what, bus drivers should have their attention focused on the road, and they might be liable for a crash if they are distracted.
Other accidents might be caused by a lack of experience or training. Bus drivers are meant to be professional drivers, and they should have adequate training and licensing before they are allowed to operate a bus. If employers put inexperienced or poorly trained drivers on the road, they might be liable for a crash.
Damages Involved in Stonecrest, GA Bus Accidents
A serious accident usually leads to serious damages, and a lot of compensation might be on the line. The more serious your injuries are, the higher your medical bills probably will be. Broken bones, skull fractures, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and permanent disabilities are relatively common in bus accident cases. Many of these injuries require long-term or lifelong care, and our bus accident attorneys can help you add future medical bills to your overall damages claim.
The cost of your lost or damaged property and personal belongings might also be quite staggering. If you were driving your own vehicle when you were struck by a bus, there is a chance your car is totaled. A replacement vehicle might be expensive, and you should claim that cost in your lawsuit. Similarly, you should claim the value of any personal items destroyed in the crash.
For many, returning to work is impossible until injuries are healed, at least somewhat. This might mean you are out of commission and unable to earn income for a long time. An attorney can help you claim the income you have lost from being unable to work in addition to future lost income if you cannot work for the foreseeable future.
Psychological distress should not be discounted. Negligent bus drivers and their employers should be made to pay for the distress, trauma, and suffering inflicted upon you. This psychological distress often leads to diagnosable mental conditions or disorders, such as PTSD.
Who You Should Sue for Damages After a Bus Accident in Stonecrest, GA
Figuring out who is responsible for a bus accident often takes some investigation. Bus accidents are rarely minor events, and the police usually get involved. You can go over the details of your injuries, damages, and how the crash occurred with your lawyer while the police investigate the cause of the crash.
Often, negligent bus drivers are the direct cause of crashes and are usually the main defendants in bus accident lawsuits. However, they might not be the only defendant. Usually, their employer can be held vicariously liable if the bus driver’s negligence occurred within the scope of their normal job duties. Naming the bus company is a good idea as they likely have more insurance and resources to pay for your considerable damages.
Buses operating as part of public transportation might make a bus accident lawsuit more complicated. Earlier this year, it was announced that a new Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)bus hub would be coming to Stonecrest. This means there may be more public buses in Stonecrest in the near future.
If you are in an accident with a MARTA bus, you might have a legal claim against the governmental authorities in charge of the public bus routes. In such a case, speak to a lawyer immediately, as the timeline to sue governmental authorities is typically shorter and more restricted than in other cases.
Call Our Stonecrest, GA Bus Accident Attorneys if You Were Hurt in a Crash
If you were hurt in a bus collision, call our bus accident lawyers at (844) 876-4357 and arrange a free assessment of your case with the team at Howe Law.
