If you suffered an injury in an accident as a passenger on a bus, you may get compensation for your injuries from the at-fault party—the bus company, the city, or another driver.
If you suffered an injury in an accident while a passenger on a bus, call a bus accident lawyer in Margate, FL. Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for a free consultation.
Determining Liability for Your Injuries in a Margate. FL, Bus Accident
The type of bus you are on is essential in determining liability for your injuries in a bus accident. Types of buses include the following:
- A bus owned by a private company transporting passengers across state lines.
- A tour bus carrying a group within a state or across state lines.
- A city bus transporting workers and others around the city.
- A bus taking students on field trips, to athletic events, or to school.
The Duty of Care a Bus Driver Owes You
A driver of a bus that is a common carrier owes a higher duty of care than other drivers to its passengers. This includes buses transporting passengers for a fee, as well as school buses.
Special Rules for Buses Traveling Across State Lines
Bus drivers and bus companies transporting passengers across state lines may be subject to federal regulations like those applied to trucking companies. For example, federal regulations may limit the hours a driver may operate a bus without a break.
Proving Liability for Your Injuries in a Bus Accident
Our attorneys will determine who is liable for your bus accident.
The Bus Driver
The bus driver owes you a duty to operate the bus safely and to comply with the rules of the road. Our attorneys must show the bus driver failed to meet that duty and caused your accident. Conduct we can demonstrate include:
- The bus driver was operating the bus over the speed limit or faster than reasonable under the weather conditions.
- The bus driver was not keeping his or her eyes on the road. The driver may have been texting, checking email, or talking on the phone.
- The bus driver consumed alcohol, used illegal drugs, or took prescription medication with side effects.
- The bus driver was fatigued or tired.
- The bus driver had inadequate training.
The Bus Driver’s Employer
The bus driver’s employer can be liable for the driver’s conduct.
The Owner of the Bus
If the owner of a bus knows the bus has a mechanical problem and allows the driver to operate the bus anyway, the owner may be liable. The owner can also be liable for allowing someone the owner knows is incompetent to drive the bus.
A Repair Shop
If a mechanic repaired the bus shortly before the accident and the lousy repair job caused the accident, the repair shop can be liable. For example, the mechanic may not have repaired the brakes properly.
The Government
If your child suffers an injury while riding on a school bus or you suffer injuries while riding on a city bus, the government can be liable for the bus accident. Special rules apply when you file a claim against the city or another governmental entity. Our Margate personal injury lawyers know the deadlines and requirements for filing a claim against the government.
Did you suffer an injury while a passenger on a bus? Contact a bus accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for help. You have four years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. The quicker you call us, the sooner our attorneys can start working on your case.
The Driver of Another Vehicle
A driver of another vehicle such as car, motorcycle, or truck could strike the bus. Our attorneys can show the driver of the vehicle breached his or her duty to drive safely and obey the rules of the road.
The driver of the vehicle and the bus driver can both be at fault. In that event, you can recover against both according to the division of fault.
Getting Compensation for Your Injuries in a Margate, FL, Bus Accident
You can suffer serious injuries in a bus accident. Most buses do not have seatbelts, making it the chance of being tossed around in an accident higher.
Types of Injuries You Can Suffer During a Bus Accident
What types of injuries can you suffer in a bus accident?
- Head injuries: Your head can strike the windshield if you are seated near the front of the bus, or your head can strike the seat in front of you.
- Neck injuries: If a vehicle hits the bus in the rear, you can receive a neck injury, commonly known as a whiplash injury.
- Spinal injuries: In a rollover bus accident, you can suffer a spinal injury that could lead to paralysis.
- Broken bones: As the accident tosses you around in the bus, you can break an arm or leg.
If you suffered an injury in a bus accident, contact a bus accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine.
Compensation You Can Get for Your Injuries in a Bus Accident
If you are suing a private party—not the government—your damages are not subject to a limit. The compensation that you can get for your injuries in a bus accident include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity (the difference in what you earned before the bus accident and what you can earn after the accident)
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- In some cases, punitive damages, damages intended to punish the at-fault party
Florida limits your recovery to $200,000 if you file a claim against the government—a city, a county, or the state. The limit is $300,000 per accident, so you can receive less if several people suffer injuries in the bus accident. You cannot get punitive damages against the government.
If you suffered an injury while a passenger on a bus, contact a bus accident lawyer in Margate, FL, at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine by calling us for a free consultation.
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