What to know about bus accident injury claims?

It is common for individuals to commute to work to save money, especially now that gas prices have skyrocketed. However, public transportation comes with its risk. Individuals put their trust in public transportation. However, that trust can easily be broken when a party acts negligently, meaning they do not maintain a standard duty of care for their passengers. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a bus accident due to negligence, contact an experienced Washington, D.C. Mass Transit Accident Lawyer who can help you recover economic and non-economic damages for your losses. 

Who is liable for a bus accident?

Several different parties could be held responsible for injuries sustained in a bus accident. Some liable parties may include:

Bus drivers

One of the more common reasons for bus accidents is negligent bus drivers. When bus drivers do not adhere to the rules of the road, they put all occupants’ safety in danger. Bus drivers have a responsibility to maintain a standard duty of care to ensure the safety of all occupants. If they fail to do so they will be held liable for their reckless actions that inflicted injury. Bus drivers may be negligent if they are:

  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving while intoxicated
  • Reckless driving
  • Failing to yield or stop at a stop sign/red light
  • Any other dangerous actions that disobey the rules of the road

Bus and public transportation companies

Typically, buses are owned by public transportation companies. If a public transportation company fails to conduct regular maintenance checks and repairs or neglects to remedy unsafe conditions, the company will be held liable for damages. Similarly to bus drivers, public transportation companies owe passengers a certain standard duty of care that preserves and fortifies safety. If they fail to do so catastrophic accidents and injuries may result.

Manufacturers

Another cause of bus accidents is bus defects. Buses have complex mechanics, meaning there is plenty of room for error. Defective mechanical parts can cause accidents to occur. The design and manufacturing of a bus alone could contribute to the cause of an accident. This may leave bus drivers with no liability. However, in certain cases, it can be a combination of negligent factors. Nevertheless, if a bus accident was caused by a manufacturing defect, the case would change to a product liability claim.

Motorists

Oftentimes, bus accidents occur due to other motorists’ negligence on the road. If another driver acts negligently, meaning they do not comply with the rules of the road, they may be responsible for damages. However, victims must prove the other driver’s negligence to recover damages.

In D.C. injured individuals have six months from the date of the injury to file a Notice of Claim for a bus accident. Individuals must file a claim within this period.

If you or someone you love has been injured due to negligence in a bus accident, contact one of our determined and skilled team members. We can help you investigate the cause of the accident as well as help you gather evidence to back your claim. Bus accidents can be complex, however, our firm can help you reach auspicious results.