People rely on buses as an accessible and cost-effective mode of transportation. When bus accidents happen, the people who rely on bus companies and drivers for safety are often severely injured.
Bus accidents might have multiple causes, and many accidents are because of traffic violations, inexperienced bus drivers, and dangerous road conditions. The people responsible for accidents are often the bus drivers themselves, the transit companies that hired them, and quite possibly the city or town in charge of public transportation. You need strong evidence of the defendant’s negligence to prove your claims and get compensation. Photos, videos, and witnesses might be important in your case.
You should not have to endure the pain and injuries from an accident without getting justice and compensation. Our Georgia bus accident lawyers can help you begin a lawsuit against the people who caused the crash. For a free case review, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Typical Reasons Behind Many Bus Accidents in Georgia
Buses are huge, heavy vehicles but are not immune from accidents and collisions. Many bus accidents are caused by drivers committing dangerous traffic violations. It is often too easy to dismiss traffic violations considering most people break traffic laws at some point in their lives. Even a minor traffic violation could cause a big accident, especially involving a bus. Even small violations like speeding or failing to signal a turn might cause a deadly collision.
Inexperienced bus drivers are also a problem, and their lack of driving skills often leads to crashes. Driving a bus is not like driving a more typical vehicle. Buses are much larger, heavier, and more complicated. Drivers need a special commercial driver’s license and proper training before they can drive a bus safely. If a driver is not trained or properly licensed, their inexperience might be dangerous behind the wheel. Even simple things like backing up, turning, and braking are harder when driving a bus.
Road conditions play a big role in many bus accidents. Some buses are parts of public transportation and are on the roads in all weather conditions. As such, drivers must adjust how they drive when road and weather conditions are bad. If a bus driver is not more careful when roads are icy or wet, and visibility is low, an accident might happen, and people might get hurt. Our Georgia bus accident lawyers can review the weather conditions from the day of the crash to determine if bad weather combined with driver negligence played a role.
People Commonly Responsible for Bus Accidents in Georgia
Lawsuits are notoriously complex and difficult, and bus accident lawsuits are no different. In many cases, numerous parties share blame for the crash, and plaintiffs often have hazy memories of the traumatic event. Speak to our Georgia bus accident lawyers about what you can remember about the crash, and we can help you piece together the details to determine whom to sue.
The bus driver is very often the first person named as a defendant in lawsuits for bus accidents. Bus drivers are in charge of keeping the bus and its passengers safe. The actions or lack of action from the bus driver is usually the direct cause of the accident, even if various other factors contributed.
If the bus driver was negligent, we can sue them and their employer, the bus company. The legal doctrine of respondeat superior might allow us to hold the bus company vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence. Under this legal theory, employers are vicariously liable for employees’ negligence committed in furtherance of their job duties.
Bus drivers who drive for public transportation present a somewhat more complicated case. While we can sue the driver and their employer in this instance, their employer is often a government entity or municipality. If the bus driver worked for a local government or municipality, we must submit a notice of claim within 6 months of the accident, according to O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5(b). If the bus was part of a state-run public transportation network, we must submit a notice of claim to the State of Georgia within 12 months of the accident under O.C.G.A. § 50-21-26(a)(1).
Evidence You Need in a Georgia Bus Accident Lawsuit
Evidence is the beating heart of any lawsuit. Not only will you be unable to prove your claims without evidence, but a court will likely reject your case. Gathering evidence is difficult, especially if the evidence you need is hard to find. Our Georgia bus accident attorneys have experience collecting evidence in a variety of cases, and we can help you find what you need to prove your claims for damages.
If you can do so, you should document the accident scene by taking as many photos as possible. The accident scene will very quickly be cleared away once all injured people are taken for medical treatment, and law enforcement has had time to inspect the crash site. As a result, important evidence might be lost forever if it is not carefully preserved in your photos. If you cannot take photos because you are too badly hurt, our team can help you find other strong evidence.
In many bus accident cases, security cameras capture the accident on video. If we can obtain footage of the crash, we might have some of the most powerful evidence we can get for your case. Many buses, especially those for public transportation, have security cameras inside and outside the bus. We can obtain these videos to see exactly what the driver was doing when the bus accident happened.
Bus accidents often involve many drivers and passengers, and a lot of people probably saw the accident unfold. These witnesses can testify in your case about any first-hand knowledge that might shed light on how the crash happened and who is to blame. Witness testimony can be very powerful, and numerous witnesses can paint a vivid picture of the accident for a jury.
Call Our Georgia Bus Accident Lawyers for A Free Case Evaluation
Bus accidents can be sudden, dangerous, and traumatic. If you were injured in such an accident, your damages might be extremely high, and our Georgia bus accident lawyers can help get you compensation. For a free case review, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
