If you or a loved one was a passenger on a bus that was involved in an accident, or was in another vehicle involved in an accident with a bus, then you could be entitled to compensation. Call our team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at 800-921-7227 for a free consultation regarding your case.
There Are Many Dangers Unique to Buses
All types of buses have some common features that may increase the risk of injury or death in any given collision. Some of these features include:
- Often, buses lack seatbelts or other safety features present in most passenger vehicles, which can put passengers at risk.
- Buses, especially those that are fully-loaded and intended to carry 60 or more passengers, generally weigh tens of thousands of pounds, meaning that they can do great damage when involved in a collision.
- Because of their weight capacity, buses can be more difficult to maneuver safely, especially at high rates of speed.
- Because of their weight, buses are not able to stop as rapidly as smaller passenger vehicles.
Each of these conditions can increase the risk of collision and, when a collision does occur, the likelihood of serious injury or death is high. If you or a loved one was injured or killed as a passenger on a bus or an occupant of another vehicle with which a bus collided, then you should consider whether negligence was at play.
For a free legal consultation with a bus accidents lawyer serving Miami, call 800-921-7227
Negligence Is Common on Florida’s Roadways
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that there were more than 403,600 crashes in Florida in 2018, amounting to more than 152,000 crashes where serious injury occurred. That means that there was an average of 1,106 crashes per day on Florida’s roads.
Some of these accidents were unavoidable, but a significant number of them were the result of negligence by one or more drivers. According to Markets Insider, distracted driving has become the leading cause of car accidents, and bus drivers are not immune to engaging in the dangerous behaviors that increase the risk of an accident.
Some common forms of distracted driving that could be a factor in your accident include:
- Fooling with the vehicle’s entertainment system while driving
- Taking attention from the road to tend to children, pets, or other occupants in a vehicle
- Averting your eyes from of the road to engage with other motorists
- Making a phone call while driving
- Engaging in any phone-related activity, such as posting on social media or taking eyes off the road to view a navigation app, while driving
Though Florida’s legislature and law enforcement officers have made a concerted effort to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, distracted driving remains common. Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles considers distracted driving any behavior that leads you to take one or more hands off of the wheel, take your eyes off of the road, or to even think about anything other than driving.
It does not matter whether the person who caused your accident is the driver of a bus you were riding in, the driver of another vehicle that collided with your bus, or the driver of a bus that struck your vehicle. If they were negligent, they may be responsible for your losses.
Call the team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at 800-921-7227 for a free consultation.
Miami Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-921-7227
A Miami Bus Accident Lawyer Can Help You Pursue Compensation
If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a bus-related accident, a lawyer can be a tremendous help in pursuing any compensation that you are entitled to.
Some ways that a lawyer will help include:
- Starting your case right away by filing the necessary paperwork with the courts.
- Archiving evidence of the accident or circumstances that led to the accident, such as videotape, photographs, eyewitness accounts, and police reports.
- Taking care of all of the legal responsibilities necessary to bring your case to a resolution, whether it is a judgment or settlement.
- Protecting your rights throughout the legal process.
Your lawyer is responsible for showing the court that the defendant in your case, which may be a bus driver, municipality, private bus company, another party, or some combination of these entities, acted negligently.
It is important to call a lawyer right away. The statute of limitations in Florida for wrongful death claims is generally two years from the date of your loved one’s death, while personal injury cases are generally subject to a statute of limitations that is four years from the date that the accident occurred. There are exceptions to these statutes, and you should call a lawyer regardless of the time that has passed since the accident or death.
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Potential Compensation in A Wrongful Death Claim
Each personal injury and wrongful death claim is unique, but you should have an idea of possible compensation that you could collect for your losses.
Some possible awards resulting from your case may cover:
- Medical expenses stemming from the accident
- Lost wages or diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
If your case is a wrongful death claim, you may be entitled to additional awards, including coverage for:
- The loss of financial protection for you and your family that results from your loved one’s death
- The loss of spousal companionship
- The loss of guidance for children of the deceased
- Funeral costs
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Call Our Team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC Today
Our team aims to protect you from any further financial damage. Our clients pay nothing upfront and nothing unless we secure compensation for you. Call our team of Miami bus accident lawyers today at Ben Crump Law, PLLC at 800-921-7227 for a free consultation.
Call or text 800-921-7227 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
