Accidents involving buses can result in catastrophic injuries or even death. Oftentimes, attempting to determine which parties to file a claim against is a difficult legal process. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a bus accident in the state of Florida, contact a Hollywood bus accident lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at 800-921-7227 to understand how you may be able to receive compensation.
Determining Liability
If you are suffering injuries from a bus, you may feel confused and overwhelmed about who has responsibility and liability regarding the accident. If you file a lawsuit to receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering, you must determine who you file a lawsuit against. The following are possible persons or entities that may have liability in your bus accident:
Bus Company
In many cases, if you suffered an injury on any kind of private bus, the responsibility and accountability will rest with the bus company. While the bus driver may have operated the bus in a negligent manner, ultimately the hiring of a bus driver rests with the bus company. As long as the bus driver operated the bus within the scope of their employment, and injuries occurred, you may file a lawsuit against the bus company. The legal theory behind filing a claim against an employer for the actions of their employees during the scope of their employment is respondeat superior.
Additionally, along with the negligence of the bus driver, you may have a claim against the bus company for the negligent hiring of a bus employee. If a bus company failed to adequately or appropriately check the criminal or driving background of a bus employee before hiring them, you will have a strong claim against the bus company for any injuries suffered in a bus accident.
This particular case will hold true in circumstances where there is serious evidence of negligence in a bus drivers’ history, such as driving while under the influence (DUI) convictions.
Private Businesses and Organizations
In many cases, the owner of a bus is an organization or private business. Hotels often have small buses that take their guests to and from the airport or other locations. Churches and other small organizations also oftentimes have small buses that they either hire or own outright. Determining who owns the bus, who has control over the vehicle, and who drives the bus will help determine who is liable and responsible for any claim a victim brings in a court of law.
Government Entities
Buses are also often owned by state and local governments. If the bus involved in your accident was a school bus or a public bus owned by a local or state government, you may consider filing a lawsuit or claim against that appropriate government entity. It is important to note that filing a legal claim against the government is vastly different than filing a legal claim against a private entity or person. Government claims are legally complex, and visiting with a Hollywood bus accident lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at 800-921-7227 can help you understand how to file a claim against a government entity and how you may be able to receive compensation.
Manufacturers
In some cases, a bus accident is not the fault of the bus driver or the entity that owns the bus at all, but rather was caused by a defective part or component of the bus that might not have met federal regulations. If an investigation of the bus accident determines that the cause of the accident was due to a manufacturing defect in the bus, a victim may sue the manufacturer under product liability law.
Manufacturing defects can either directly cause a bus accident or can make a bus accident worse. For example, if the part or component is defective and causes a bus accident, the manufacturer will be liable. However, if the bus accident occurs due to the negligence of the driver but the defective part or component of the bus causes a more catastrophic accident to occur, the manufacturer is liable for those severe injuries suffered.
Recall notices occur on bus parts and components just as they do passenger vehicles. Some types of manufacturing defects that may result in a serious accident could include broken accelerators, loss of light, and unintentional deployment of airbags. Other defects include failure of steering mechanisms, fires due to electrical system failures, broken and/or cracked wheels, fuel system failures, seatback failures, or windshield wiper failures.
For a free legal consultation with a bus accidents lawyer serving Hollywood, call 800-921-7227
Injuries Suffered
Accidents involving buses may result in serious injuries or even death. Types of injuries suffered could include minor injuries or more severe injuries such as broken bones, fractured bones, bruising, lacerations, traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, concussions, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, or even death.
If you were a victim of a bus accident, make sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible following an accident to ensure the protection of both your health and legal rights. Having a medical professional evaluate your injuries immediately following an accident can later prove to a court that your injuries resulted in substantial medical bills, the loss of wages due to your inability to work, and pain and suffering. Make sure to always keep a record of all of your medical bills, doctor appointments, physical therapy, surgeries, prescriptions, lost wages, and a journal of your pain and suffering.
Hollywood Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-921-7227
Hollywood Bus Accident Lawyers
Understanding who to file a claim against after a bus accident can prove to be a challenging legal decision, and you may have the right to file a claim against multiple parties.
If you or a loved one are suffering injuries or passed away due to a bus accident, contact the Hollywood bus accident lawyers at Ben Crump Law, PLLC. Call 800-921-7227 today to help you understand your legal rights and set up a free consultation regarding your case.
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