Bus Accidents

Bus accidents are relatively uncommon due in part to the fact that bus operators are specially trained and must receive a CDL (commercial driver’s license) before stepping behind the wheel. Buses also tend to move at slow speeds, making fatal crashes less common. Nevertheless, accidents do happen from time to time.The following are some of the most common causes of bus accidents.

Establishing Liability In A Bus Accident

Determining liability in any kind of accident can be difficult. With buses, the sheer size and scale of the accident and the multitude of possibly liable parties can complicate things further. The parties most often deemed responsible in bus accident cases include the following.

• The Bus Operator. More often than not, if a bus driver is deemed liable, the company or city that employs them will be considered liable as well.
• The Bus Company. Privately owned buses or coaches that end up in accidents due to defective parts will be deemed negligent in their duty of care and solely liable for damages.
• The Municipal Government. Public transit buses are often operated by the municipal government and can be found at fault for faulty equipment that causes an accident. Also, if poor road conditions contributed to the wreck, the local government will be held responsible for failing to maintain their roadways.
• A Third Party. If a third party’s reckless driving causes a collision, they might be deemed liable, and claimants would have to seek compensation from that individual’s insurance company.

What Compensation Can I Recover For Bus Accident Damages?

As with other kinds of auto accidents, compensation can be sought for any physical, emotional, or financial damages incurred in a bus accident. Compensable damages in bus accident cases commonly include the following.

• Economic Damages. This encompasses any financial damages incurred as a result of the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, loss of wages from inability to work, etc.
• Non-economic Damages. These are also known as pain and suffering damages and cover more abstract losses, such as loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, emotional trauma, or consortium loss.
• Punitive Damages. Sometimes referred to as exemplary damages, this is compensation sought to punish the defendant for outrageous misconduct or gross negligence.