If you were hurt in a bus accident, you may be able to secure compensation for your injuries, medical care, lost income, and other damages. These cases can be complex, and you have other things to worry about besides navigating the process and figuring out the applicable statutes. A bus accident lawyer from Distasio Law Firm could offer to represent you and handle your legal case so you can seek a payout.
Let a team member from our firm assess your bus accident case today for free. We provide complimentary case consultations to truck and bus accident victims. We are ready to talk to you and evaluate your legal options now. Call (813) 259-0022.
Liability in Bus Accident Cases
There are a number of buses that operate on the roadways, and the type that caused your accident can affect liability in your case. The various bus types include:
Private Coaches
In some cases, buses have individual private owners. These individuals often use them for recreation, traveling, and other purposes. The liable party in this type of bus accident will likely be an individual.
Public Transportation and School Buses
Many of the buses you encounter on local roads are owned and managed by government agencies. They may belong to local school systems, the local transit authority, or other public transportation agencies.
Based on data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), school busses make up an average of 40 percent of bus collision fatalities. Transit busses make up another 35 percent. It may be possible to hold such a group or agency responsible following an accident.
Tour Companies and Other Private Companies
Other buses are owned and operated by private companies. This includes tour buses, campaign buses, and long-distance transportation buses. When the driver of one of these buses causes an accident, the bus company is likely liable.
At Distasio Law Firm, we will review your case for free. If we represent you, we will handle all aspects of your legal case and seek the compensation you deserve. You can count on us to navigate the process for you. You do not have to worry about anything except continuing your treatment and healing from your injuries.
Building a Case Based on Your Bus Accident and Injuries
Distasio Law Firm is committed to helping our clients fight for the compensation they need and deserve. We believe you should not have to pay for your injuries or cover your other losses on your own if you did not cause the damages you suffered. Instead, a bus accident lawyer should hold the liable party accountable for your damages.
In general, the liable party in your case will depend on who owned and operated the bus in your accident. We will investigate the collision, gather evidence, and identify the liable party.
When the liable party is a government agency, the requirements for seeking damages may differ slightly from other types of personal injury cases. Specific statutes allow us to pursue damages from a government agency, but it also creates a different claims process and limits the recovery in most cases.
Alternatively, we can pursue a case against the driver’s employer if a private company operated the bus. This is generally possible when the driver is an employee of the company and was working on their assigned duties when the collision occurred, through the concept of vicarious liability, as affirmed by the Legal Information Institute (LII).
Call Distasio Law Firm now at (813) 259-0022 to talk with a member of our team about your collision. We know how to develop a case and seek compensation based on the applicable laws. If you choose us, we can go to work on your claim today.
Securing Damages in a Bus Accident Claim or Lawsuit
Our team documents the expenses and losses our clients experienced due to their bus accident injuries and damages. No matter if you were in a car or on the bus at the time of the accident, we want to hold the liable party accountable and secure your financial recovery. Recoverable damages could include:
- Outstanding and future medical evaluations, treatment, and care
- Any income and benefits you miss out on during recovery
- Diminished earning capacity, if you have lasting injuries that affect your career
- Repair or replacement of your car or other personal property
- Intangible losses, such as mental and physical suffering
Wrongful death damages may also be available following a bus accident. If your family member passed away in a bus accident, state law may allow you to seek damages based on your family’s related losses. We understand this is a devastating and difficult time for you. Our team can help you by handling your legal case on your behalf.
Deadlines for Filing a Civil Suit in a Bus Accident Case
The statute of limitations in most personal injury cases sets the deadline to file between one and four years, depending on the state. Wrongful death cases may have their own time restrictions.
However, additional deadlines may apply when the liable party is a government agency. This process has its own timeline we must adhere to in order to recover compensation from a local transit authority, a county school system, or another government agency.
Reach out to Distasio Law Firm to enlist our help with your case as soon as possible. Once your injuries are stable, we can go to work on your claim and identify the liable party.
Speak with a Team Member from Distasio Law Firm Now
A bus accident lawyer from Distasio Law Firm may be able to seek and secure compensation for you following a bus collision. We provide representation to our clients based on contingency. We do not charge our clients a retainer or other upfront fees.
You can discuss your case with a team member now. Call Distasio Law Firm at (813) 259-0022.
