Mississippi buses provide services to many people, and bus drivers are responsible for ensuring their passengers’ safety and the safety of the bus on the road. However, recovering compensation after a bus accident can be challenging.
Bus accident cases are complex because other parties besides the driver could be liable for the accident. Fortunately, an experienced Mississippi bus accident lawyer can help you overcome the challenges of recovering compensation. In some cases, a company that owns the bus involved in an accident can be held accountable for its driver’s negligence. However, many buses are operated by government transit companies with special legal protections that prevent them from being sued.
If a negligent bus driver has injured you, our Mississippi bus accident lawyers can help you recover the compensation you are entitled to. For a free case review, contact Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
Common Types of Injuries Caused in Mississippi Bus Accidents
Bus accidents are known to cause much more serious injuries than car accidents. Victims often require significant treatment to recover from their injuries after a bus accident. The following are some of the most common injuries victims can sustain in Mississippi Bus Accidents:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
- Fractures
- Face, eye, and dental injuries
- Injuries from passenger ejections
- Burn injuries
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Amputations
- Wrongful death
Victims of a bus accident deserve to be compensated regardless of how their injuries were caused. Our Mississippi bus accident lawyers can help you determine the best path to get justice for your injuries.
Who is Liable for a Bus Accident in Mississippi?
Liability for a bus accident depends on who is responsible for the bus that caused the accident. There are many different types of buses in Mississippi, operated by private companies and government agencies. In many bus accident cases, a negligent bus driver’s employer can be held liable for their employee’s conduct. However, a bus company might be shielded from liability if it is a government entity.
Public Transit Bus Accidents
There are many public transit bus options throughout Mississippi. Generally, public transit buses, like JATRAN in Jackson, are owned and operated by the city or municipalities they provide services in. However, recovering compensation after being injured by a public transit bus can be challenging. While it is usually possible to file a lawsuit against a negligent bus driver that injured you, you could be prevented from naming the government bus company that employs them as a defendant. This is because government bus companies in Mississippi enjoy what is known as sovereign immunity, meaning they can only be sued for personal injuries in certain situations.
Private Commercial Bus Accidents
Private commercial buses provide transportation services to customers for a particular purpose in exchange for money. Greyhound buses are a common example of private commercial buses in Mississippi. However, private commercial buses can also be chartered for private events like weddings, corporate gatherings, and other occasions where a bus is a better option than driving.
If an accident is caused by a bus driver employed by a private bus company, the driver and the bus company can be held liable in most cases. Under the theory of vicarious liability, employers can be held responsible for the negligent acts of their employees if an accident occurs while performing their normal duties. For instance, if a bus driver caused an accident because they were distracted by their cell phone while driving their route, both the driver and their employer can be held liable for damages.
School Bus Accidents
Unfortunately, school bus accidents are not uncommon, given how many operate on a daily basis in Mississippi. In some cases, the school buses in a district are maintained by a city or municipality’s school district. The driver can be held liable if an accident involves a government-owned school bus, but the district will likely be shielded from suit because of sovereign immunity.
However, many school buses in Mississippi are operated by private contractors hired by a municipality. If a private contractor maintains the school bus involved in an accident, the driver and the contractor can usually be held accountable.
Tour Bus Accidents
Many tour buses provide services to residents and tourists for recreation and sightseeing in Mississippi. However, determining liability in these cases can be challenging. Sometimes, a tour bus might be hired directly by a private group of individuals. In those cases, a bus driver and the tour bus company can typically be held accountable for causing a bus accident.
In some cases, an intermediary group hires a tour bus for the benefit of those using it. If an accident happens under these circumstances, the group that hired the tour bus might be liable along with the bus driver that caused the accident. Our Mississippi bus accident lawyers can help you craft the right legal strategies for the type of bus that caused your injuries.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against the Government for a Mississippi Bus Accident?
Accidents caused by government-owned buses present significant barriers to victims attempting to recover compensation for their injuries. As mentioned, cities and municipalities that operate public transit buses cannot typically be held liable for accidents caused by their bus drivers. This does not totally prevent a victim from holding a government bus company accountable. Still, there will be additional requirements that victims need to fulfill if they want to have a chance at suing a government agency.
According to Miss. Code Ann. § 11-46-11, several requirements and limitations are placed on victims attempting to sue a Mississippi government entity. To sue a government bus company, you will need to provide notice in writing to the clerk of the city or municipal government you intend to sue. It would be best if you acted quickly, as the law places a one-year deadline from the date of the accident for victims to file their lawsuits. Further, compensation for your injuries will be limited to $500,000 if your lawsuit is successful, and you will be prevented from recovering additional punitive damages. Our Mississippi bus accident lawyers can help you with the necessary steps if your accident involves a government-owned bus.
Our Mississippi Bus Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you need legal support after a bus accident, our Mississippi bus accident lawyers can help you hold the parties responsible for your injuries accountable. Call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case evaluation.
