Every year buses get millions of people to their destinations safely. However, sometimes passengers, occupants of other vehicles, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians get injured because of bus accidents. Contact an experienced Largo personal injury attorney immediately when you or a loved one suffer harm in an incident involving a bus.
The negligent parties who contributed to the accident are legally obligated to compensate you for your losses. A Largo bus accident lawyer at Distasio Law Firm could protect your rights while managing the claims process and ensuring you get the compensation you deserve.
Immediate Action Is Critical
Florida has a relatively generous statute of limitations for personal injury cases. Most people have two years from the date of injury to bring a lawsuit seeking damages. It is unwise to wait that long, however. Retaining a Largo bus accident attorney such as Scott Distasio as quickly as possible reaps numerous benefits.
Many buses are owned or managed by the state or a local government or agency, including:
- City buses
- Regional transit systems
- University shuttle buses
- School buses
When you have a claim against the government, you must give notice of the claim within three years of the incident if the lawsuit names the state, but the timeframe could be even shorter if a local government is involved.
When a private entity owns and runs the bus, insurers for the bus company often approach injured bus accident survivors and the families of those who died in the crash. The insurers pretend sympathy but often pressure survivors and families to accept far less than their claim could be worth. An individual with dedicated legal representation could spare themselves the stress and instead refer insurance company representatives to their attorneys.
Holding Responsible Parties Accountable for Common Carrier Collisions
A proactive lawyer from our firm in Largo could investigate who is responsible for a bus crash. In many cases, multiple factors combine to cause an incident. Identifying all responsible parties allows you to hold them accountable for your losses and forces them to reckon with the failures that allowed the collision to happen.
Buses are common carriers, so the law holds them to a high standard of care. Any deviation from best practices could be evidence of negligence. Bus accidents often happen because the:
- Bus drivers had inadequate training
- Bus company imposed an unrealistic schedule
- Bus manufacturers used defective components
- The bus company did not maintain the vehicle properly
- The bus driver could not handle the vehicle in the prevailing weather conditions
- Bus driver was distracted, fatigued, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Drivers of other vehicles, passengers, and even cyclists or pedestrians could also have partial liability for a bus wreck.
The bus driver is usually liable for their own failures or negligence while operating the vehicle. Similarly, the employer might be responsible if any other involved vehicle was a commercial vehicle or if a driver was operating the bus while engaging in a work-related function.
Recoverable Damages for a Largo Bus Crash
Your claim against the bus company could include all your expenses and losses related to the incident, such as:
- Property damage
- Medical expenses
- Incidental costs
- Lost wages
You could claim future losses if your bus accident injury prevents your return to work or requires ongoing medical care.
The responsible parties also owe you compensation for the injury’s intangible effects, like:
- Inconvenience
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Physical pain
- Loss of consortium
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Temporary or permanent disability
Florida Statutes § 768.28 (5)(a) limits the damages an injured person could collect against a government to $200,000, or $300,00 per incident. A bus accident victim with significant injuries could be entitled to far more. A diligent legal professional from our firm could investigate an incident involving a government-run bus and locate other sources of insurance coverage to ensure you receive a reasonable settlement.
Call a Largo Bus Accident Attorney Immediately After a Crash
Bus collision injuries are often severe, and the incidents create financial havoc among survivors and the family members of people who died. You can hold the responsible parties accountable by bringing a Largo injury lawsuit against every person, company, and government that had a role in the incident.
A Largo bus accident lawyer from Distasio Law Firm is skilled at identifying liable parties, negotiating to get a favorable settlement, and litigating the case if settlement offers are inadequate. Contact us right away to discuss your case.
