Buses generally offer passengers a reasonably safe way of getting from Point A to Point B. However, buses tend to be large, heavy, and sturdy vehicles that can potentially become dangerous for other road users, such as car occupants, pedestrians, cyclists, and others. Buses can be cumbersome to maneuver and take a long time and distance to come to a complete stop.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlights that 1,282 people died in accidents involving school buses between 2007 and 2016. Fatalities included schoolchildren, pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants of passenger vehicles.
If you suffered injuries in a bus accident or a loved one lost their life in such a crash, you might now be wondering about your next steps. Generally, if the bus driver or another party acted negligently in causing a crash, you could recover compensation.
A Punta Gorda bus accident lawyer can help you get clear on the steps you could take to protect your rights and pursue compensation for your injuries. You can start fighting for your due today. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for a free consultation at 1-800-747-3733.
Determining Negligence in a Bus Accident
While car accidents can be fairly easy to prove, the opposite can be true for bus accidents, which could require a great amount of research to determine all liable parties.
While car drivers are generally only required to exercise reasonable care, bus drivers are common carriers and have additional responsibilities. Bus drivers should take particular care when driving as well as observe certain government regulations. A bus driver could be negligent in your accident if they were driving while fatigued, intoxicated, or distracted.
However, you could have several defendants in bus accidents, such as the owners of the bus, the company’s operators, or any third parties, such as the mechanics repairing buses. If the accident happened on local transit, you could have a case against a government entity.
Proving negligence can be tricky with so many potential at-fault parties in the mix. However, a Punta Gorda bus accident lawyer can analyze a claim or a lawsuit and look at all aspects of your accident, including any proof of operator negligence or third-party liability. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for legal advice now at 1-800-747-3733.
Injuries in Punta Gorda Bus Accidents
Bus accident victims can suffer various injuries, depending on whether they were passengers, pedestrians, or other vehicle occupants when the crash occurred. Injuries will also depend on the severity of the crash and the speed at which it occurred. While a bus driver may walk away from an accident unharmed, getting hit by a bus usually does not end well for cyclists or pedestrians. Some victims may be permanently injured and suffer from chronic pain or disabilities after a bus accident. Injuries in bus accidents may include:
Head and Neck Injuries
Head, neck, and brain injuries can occur when a bus passenger hits their head during a crash. According to the Mayo Clinic, vehicle-related impacts can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). A severe TBI could have life-changing negative effects and cause cognitive problems, seizures, depression, and anxiety. Bus accidents can also cause whiplash due to the rapid back-and-forth motion of the head during a crash.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Blunt force trauma in a bus crash can cause devastating spinal cord injuries. In the worst cases, a spinal cord injury can leave a bus accident victim paralyzed and unable to lead an independent life. Less severe spinal cord damage can cause nerve injuries, incontinence, loss of muscle strength, and other adverse health consequences.
Severed and Amputated Limbs
In a particularly bad accident, a victim could lose entire limbs. Severing a limb or having an injury that requires amputation of a limb can have a devastating effect on an individual’s psychological and physical well-being.
Fractures
Bus passengers can get thrown about when a crash occurs, resulting in bone breaks. Simple bone fractures can heal by themselves and may require only minimal medical intervention. However, complicated bone breaks could cause permanent disability and require expensive surgeries and rehabilitative therapies.
Internal Organ Injuries and Internal Bleeding
Pedestrians and cyclists can suffer severe and life-threatening injuries when struck by a bus. Internal injuries that may arise from getting struck can include kidney and liver damage and internal bleeding. While invisible to the naked eye, internal injuries can be fatal and typically require immediate medical treatment.
Cuts and Lacerations
Bus passengers can suffer from lacerations and cuts due to objects or glass shards flying around in a serious crash. Deep lacerations can cause serious bleeding and soft tissue damage. Victims could end up suffering from permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Compensation in Bus Accidents
A bus accident can potentially cause serious and permanent injuries that may require a lifetime of care. Victims may never be able to return to their job. The financial fallout from such an accident can cause great hardship for the victim and their family.
In a bus accident lawsuit, a victim could recover certain types of compensation, depending on their injuries, including:
- Medical costs
- Costs for wheelchair or crutches
- Transportation costs
- Property damage
- Loss of wages
- Lost or reduced income
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of a limb
- Scarring and disfigurement
If your loved one died due to injuries suffered in a bus accident, you could file a wrongful death lawsuit that can help ease the financial burden arising from the loss of a family member.
Bus accidents can be complicated and may require professional help for proving the negligence of the at-fault party. We understand that the stress and worry about your health, as well as any unpaid medical bills, can feel overwhelming. However, you are not alone.
A Punta Gorda bus accident lawyer may be able to help you with your claim or lawsuit. All you have to do is pick up the phone and speak to a member of our team about your accident. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for help now at 1-800-747-3733.
We Can Help.
