Due to their size, the number of passengers, and the likelihood of multi-vehicle involvement, bus accidents often lead to severe injuries for numerous people. In addition to the passengers on the bus, they may harm pedestrians, cyclists, and people in other vehicles. However, passengers on buses face unique risks—most buses lack seatbelts, and many riders stand or sit in vulnerable positions.
At Bordas & Bordas, our Wheeling bus accident lawyers understand the challenges of accidents with multiple victims and involved parties. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys hold bus companies and other responsible parties accountable. We have a history of significant victories against large corporations like GM and Walmart, recovering millions for our clients, and we will apply the same dedication to your bus accident claim.
Liability for Bus Crashes
Filing a claim after a bus accident is not the same as a regular auto accident claim. It involves understanding the specific legal responsibilities of common carriers. They owe a higher duty of care to passengers, which extends to maintaining the safety of the vehicle, properly training drivers, and avoiding negligence that could put others at risk.
West Virginia uses a modified comparative fault model in personal injury cases. You can recover compensation if you are less than 51 percent at fault for the accident. For bus passengers, fault is rarely a concern, but if you were a disruptive passenger who distracted the driver, you could share responsibility for the accident. The more likely scenario where you could be responsible is if you were driving a vehicle involved in a Wheeling bus accident; in that case, a lawyer will evaluate your role before pursuing a negligence claim.
Potential Causes of Bus Collisions
Like any auto accident, driver error is the leading cause of bus accidents. Distracted driving, driver fatigue, or other impairments increase the likelihood of those errors. The at-fault driver may be the bus driver or another driver who caused a wreck.
There are other potential causes, as well. There can be third-party negligence. Other drivers may crash into the bus or cause an accident. Poorly maintained roadways, construction issues, or other problems can increase the likelihood of wrecks. Sometimes, one of your fellow passengers may be responsible for the accident.
Liability may extend beyond the bus driver—bus companies, maintenance providers, and parts manufacturers may share the blame. Fortunately, West Virginia law allows for claims against multiple parties who share responsibility for an accident. A Wheeling bus accident attorney will investigate all potentially liable parties.
Damages from Bus Accident Claims
Bus accidents are often catastrophic. They may have a large number of victims, which can complicate the provision of emergency services to people at the scene. Plus, due to the size of the vehicle, you may have substantial injuries.
The more severe the injury, the longer the recovery period and the more likely you are to have extensive medical bills. The more people injured by the accident, the greater the likelihood that the insurance policy will not be sufficient to cover all of the injuries from the claim fully.
After a serious bus crash, you can recover from economic losses like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Loss of earning capacity
You can also recover for less direct financial losses, such as the cost of hiring a housekeeper if you are unable to care for your own home.
Intangible losses are also recoverable. These losses are known as non-economic damages and include things like:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
These damages have no direct or indirect economic value. However, they still represent actual losses. The court system does not have the power actually to fix these issues, so it attempts to set a dollar amount to compensate you for that loss.
For all damages, the bus company or its insurer will try to lowball a damage claim. They may suggest that your diagnosis is not as severe as you suggest, question projected economic costs, or attempt to undercut the value of your non-economic claims. A Wheeling bus collision attorney’s job is to support claims for damages with strong evidence.
Speak to a Wheeling Bus Accident Attorney About Your Case
You must act quickly after being injured in a bus accident. Claims involving governmental entities, like public transit agencies, often have strict deadlines under state law. A Wheeling bus accident lawyer at Bordas & Bordas is here to help you understand your rights and begin the process of holding the wrongdoers accountable.
Schedule a free consultation today. We will stand by your side, advocating for the compensation you deserve.
