While buses can be a useful form of public transportation, when these vehicles are involved in collisions, the results can be devastating. A bus crash can cause severe harm to passengers, other motor vehicles, bikers, or pedestrians because of their larger size and weight.
If you or a loved one suffered bodily harm in a bus wreck, a DuBois bus accident lawyer may be a necessary ally. An experienced personal injury attorney could calculate your total losses and help you take legal action against the at-fault party.
Most bus accidents proceed under the legal theory of negligence. The law holds people or entities accountable when they fail to exercise a certain level of care and therefore cause undue harm to others.
A plaintiff who brings a negligence lawsuit must show that the at-fault party owed them a duty of care, that the defendant then breached by behaving recklessly or negligently. For example, bus drivers owe a duty of care to their passengers to follow all traffic laws. If a bus driver disobeys these safety laws and causes a crash, a DuBois attorney could hold the operator liable for any injuries sustained by the passengers.
An attorney must also prove the crash directly caused the claimant’s injuries and these losses can be compensated. This could be proved through evidence such as medical records, witness statements, and traffic cam footage.
Determining the proper defendant in a bus wreck case is vital. Since there are several different types of buses in DuBois, those hurt in a collision may require the help of a knowledgeable attorney. Some types of buses that may be involved in an accident include:
When determining who to sue, an injured person must consider whether a public or private entity owned the bus
Under 42 P.S. § 5524, a plaintiff generally has two years to file a lawsuit from the date of the bus crash. This time limit also applies to property damaged in the incident.
However, when a vehicle is government-owned, significant deadlines may apply to any claim in the form of a shorter statute of limitations period, which requires a particular statutory written notice to be sent within 6 months of the incident. Letting this period lapse means that a plaintiff may not be able to enforce their rights under the law. A bus accident lawyer in DuBois could help a plaintiff stay organized and timely file a lawsuit to protect their rights following a bus crash.
Following a bus wreck, dealing with the legal system may seem like too much to handle. A DuBois bus accident lawyer could explain your options to you clearly and transparently so that you can make a confident decision about what to do. To learn more about how a Marcus & Mack lawyer could help you, schedule your first consultation today for free.
