When you are involved in a bus accident and injured, you can file a claim against the party responsible for the collision.
Buses are one of the most efficient forms of transportation to get from one place to another. After all, when you use public transport, you’re contributing to the ecological world, as you’re reducing your carbon footprint and saving money – two transports in one.
However, like any other vehicle, even buses are prone to accidents. In the event of a collision, passengers could be seriously injured. Likewise, when a bus crashes into another vehicle, it can injure occupants of other vehicles or pedestrians.
That said, determining liability can be a complicated and lengthy part of the process, but it’s not impossible, especially if you have a lawyer on your side. In this article, you can learn more about how to determine liability in a bus accident and how legal help can facilitate your case.
Main Causes of Bus Accidents
When determining who is responsible for causing a bus accident, it is first necessary to understand the primary cause of the collision. Often, a professional attorney who specializes in bus accidents can advise you of potential scenarios that could have led to the accident, including the following:
bus driver error
Unfortunately, even the best trained and experienced bus drivers make mistakes. Depending on their condition, if they get distracted, drink and drive, or engage in other negligent behavior, they may make a mistake and cause an accident.
If this is the case, you can immediately contact a local attorney to handle your case. Let’s say you live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; you can talk to Milwaukee Bus Accident Lawyers to determine the best attorney for your case and identify the main mistakes that led to the bus collision.
other driver errors
Similar to bus drivers, other drivers can also make mistakes that cause them to have accidents with the bus. Negligent behavior can lead to a major collision with the bus, but other behaviors such as speeding can also cause the bus driver to react quickly, which can push the bus into a crash.
bus company negligence
Most people place the blame on the bus driver, but sometimes they are not the ones who caused the accident. If the bus company fails to conduct inspections or safety checks to ensure their buses are in good condition, then this could be negligence leading to a bus accident.
In this case, you have two options. First, you can consult Wisconsin Bus Accident Lawyers to learn more about your legal options and the steps to take if you want to file a claim against the bus company. Second, you can prevent such negligent behavior from other bus drivers by filing a complaint with the Wisconsin transit system (also known as GO Transit).
Proving Liability in a Bus Crash
When you are involved in a bus accident and injured, you can file a claim against the party responsible for the collision. This makes determining fault a complex process as there may be many responsible parties.
However, to find out who was responsible for the accident, you can seek help from a Milwaukee accident attorney who can investigate what happened and dig deeper to determine who caused the accident.
These lawyers will tell you what evidence to gather, which usually includes the following:
- Photos and video of the scene and your injuries
- witness testimony
- police report
- medical expenses
- traffic or driving recorder
Afterwards, your attorney can figure out how much you owe and work to get the compensation you’re due. You can still get compensation regardless of whether the bus driver or company, other drivers, or parts manufacturers are at fault.