A collision between a bus and one or more cars can have catastrophic results. If a bus strikes a car, its size and weight can significantly damage the smaller vehicle and cause devastating injuries to the driver and passengers inside. People riding in the bus may also suffer injuries as they get thrown about the interior because buses often lack seat belts.
If you were involved in a bus accident, whether you were a passenger on the bus or traveled in another vehicle, you may have suffered severe, even life-threatening injuries, such as head trauma, broken bones, whiplash, cuts, lost limbs, or paralysis. You may have undergone surgery and spent days or weeks in the intensive care unit.
Even after getting released from the hospital, you might have to continue receiving medical care for several months or longer. You may have to undergo physical therapy to relearn how to walk and do other simple tasks.
Doctors may have told you that you will never make a full recovery. If you suffered severe back, neck, or head injuries, you might always have a limited range of motion and difficulty walking and caring for yourself.
All this may have taken an incredible toll on you and your family. The pain from your injuries, the inability to work and live the life you used to enjoy, the financial stress, and worries about the future may make it difficult for you to get a good night’s sleep and strain your relationships with your loved ones.
A Melbourne bus accident lawyer knows the struggles you face trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces and move forward. Ben Crump Law, PLLC, would like to help. We have represented people hurt in motor vehicle accidents and filed personal injury lawsuits on their behalf to get the compensation they deserved. Call our office today at (800) 921-7227 to discuss your case with a member of our staff.
How to Pursue Compensation for Your Injuries
Florida is a no-fault state regarding motor vehicle accidents. That means people who suffer injuries in car crashes must seek compensation through their personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage, even if someone else caused the collision.
Florida Statutes § 627.737 allows a person who suffered severe injuries (as defined by the statute) in a motor vehicle crash to seek compensation outside the no-fault system. In a bus crash, the chances you suffered damages exceeding your PIP coverage limits or injuries that meet the “serious injury” threshold are high. You would then have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for the crash. A Melbourne bus accident lawyer could help you with your case. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, to discuss your claim with a member of our staff.
For a free legal consultation with a bus accidents lawyer serving Melbourne, call (800) 921-7227
Determining Liability for a Bus Accident
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations hold bus drivers to a high standard. If they broke the speed limit, used a cellphone, drove while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or behaved in some other way that endangered passengers and others on the road, they and the bus company that employed the driver might have liability for the crash. You could potentially seek compensation under US Code § 206.
You could also hold the bus company liable if it failed to perform proper background checks on drivers, did not provide appropriate training, or failed to adequately maintain its fleet.
Another driver might also have responsibility for the accident. For example, a drunk driver might run a red light and crash into the bus, or they could cause the bus driver to swerve to avoid them, leading them to collide with your car. In either case, the driver of the other vehicle may be liable for the crash.
Claims Against Space Coast Area Transit
If your accident involved a Space Coast Area Transit bus, you might have to pursue compensation from the local government. To do so, you will have to notify the relevant agency and the Department of Financial Services of your claim within three years, according to Florida Statutes § 768.28. If the agency denies your claim, a Melbourne bus accident lawyer could help you file a personal injury lawsuit against the government.
Comparative Negligence
You might share some of the blame for the accident. The bus operator or the person behind the wheel of another vehicle may have violated one or more traffic laws, but you may have glanced at your cell phone just before the crash. The at-fault driver could argue that if you had obeyed the law, you might have swerved or hit the brakes and avoided a collision.
Florida Statutes § 768.81 establishes a system of pure comparative negligence, meaning you can still receive financial compensation for your losses, no matter how much blame for the accident lies with you. A court could reduce any monetary award you would have received if you had not shared any of the accident’s responsibility by your percentage of fault. You would then receive a reduced award that partly compensates you for the losses you suffered because of the crash.
Melbourne Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me (800) 921-7227
How a Melbourne Bus Accident Lawyer Could Help You
Figuring out how a bus crash happened and who has responsibility may become complicated. The team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can review the accident report, interview witnesses, and review surveillance video, bus company or government maintenance and repair records, and other evidence to determine why the crash occurred.
If your injuries are considered “serious” under Florida law, we could file a personal injury lawsuit against the bus company, government, or individual who caused the accident. We could recover a financial award to compensate you for your medical expenses, property damage, lost income, and pain and suffering.
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Seek Legal Assistance Right Away
Determining fault in a bus accident may become a complex process. Evidence can become lost or destroyed if not preserved quickly. Also, you must file any claims against a private entity within four years of the accident under Florida Statutes § 95.11.
A Melbourne bus accident lawyer can interview you and others involved in the collision or who witnessed the crash and work to gather information to build a case. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at (800) 921-7227 for your free case review with a team member.
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