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A bus accident could keep you off your feet and out of work for months, or even permanently. Buses can do devastating damage when they collide with smaller vehicles or hit a pedestrian or bicyclist.
You should not bear the burden of your injuries alone. When another party’s negligence contributed to the incident, they are responsible for compensating you for your losses.
Speak with an experienced personal injury attorney at BG Law right away to learn about your right to compensation. A North Kansas City bus accident lawyer can thoroughly investigate the accident and represent your best interests in negotiations with insurers.
Buses are difficult to drive—they have large blind spots, sluggish steering and braking, and do not handle well in bad weather. Passengers can also be distracting. Although bus drivers must have special training, accidents still happen. A proactive North Kansas City attorney could review the circumstances leading up to a bus crash to pinpoint whose failure was responsible.
Driver error contributes to many bus wrecks. Some of the most common causes of bus accidents related to driver error include:
Bus companies may also share liability for a collision. Operating a bus fleet is expensive, and owners do not always maintain the vehicles properly. Tire blowouts and brake failure are frequent causes of bus accidents that routine maintenance could prevent.
Anyone who suffers losses in a bus accident could receive compensatory damages. There are two kinds of compensatory damages:
Economic damages cover expenses and out-of-pocket losses related to an accident or injury. Property damage, medical expenses, and reduced income count as economic damages. Someone could also receive money for their future losses if their injuries require ongoing medical treatment or if they cannot return to work.
Non-economic damages compensate for the losses that do not have a fixed monetary value but impact the injured person’s quality of life. A bus accident victim could receive money for their pain, scarring, disability, and the accident’s psychological impact. One of the seasoned legal professionals at BG Law could help an injured person prove their non-economic damages through testimony, photographs, video, and medical records.
If driver error caused the bus accident, the driver’s employer is usually liable. Some smaller, private bus companies hire independent contractors to drive. In that case, an injured party could sue the driver and might sue the bus company for negligent hiring.
When the bus’s performance was an issue in the crash, the bus owner and maintenance contractor might have partial responsibility. The vehicle manufacturer could be liable if a defective part played a role in the accident. Other potentially responsible parties could include other drivers involved in the crash and rowdy or distracting passengers.
Government agencies like city transit corporations, school districts, and state university systems might own or operate buses. Special legal rules apply when a government agency is potentially responsible for someone’s injuries. For example, Missouri Revised Statutes § 537.610 limits the damages an injured person could receive from a government or public agency. The law also imposes strict time limits in these cases, so an injured individual should speak with a well-practiced lawyer immediately after an accident involving a government-operated bus in North Kansas City.
Bus accidents can cause severe injuries and completely disrupt a survivor’s life. A North Kansas City bus accident lawyer at BG Law can help you seek compensation for your losses.
Do not try to manage a bus accident claim without experienced legal counsel. Get in touch with our team of dedicated attorneys today.
(816) 800-9446
