Taking a Greyhound or another commercial bus is an economical and convenient way to travel, though, when accidents happen, they often leave passengers and others on the road severely injured.
If you were hurt in an incident with a commercial motorcoach, a DuBois Greyhound bus accident lawyer could pursue compensation from the responsible parties. Damages could compensate you for your medical expenses, time off work, and other losses. You have just a short time to act, so do not delay seeking legal advice from a seasoned bus crash attorney.
As common carriers, bus companies like Greyhound owe their passengers and everyone else on the roads a duty to use the utmost diligence to ensure their safety. The responsibility to be as cautious as possible lies with the bus company and its drivers.
Unfortunately, bus companies sometimes fail to live up to their obligation. Some common causes of motorcoach accidents include:
Most of these causes could be traced to bus company negligence. Greyhound and other transportation companies must ensure their vehicles are well-maintained and safe to drive long distances. Drivers must be thoroughly screened, properly trained, and provided adequate opportunity for rest to avoid fatigue. A proactive DuBois Greyhound bus collision attorney could review the crash records and identify negligent acts and omissions by the bus driver, bus company, and others.
Buses are far heavier than most other vehicles on the road. When they collide with a passenger car or SUV, the passenger vehicle is likely to experience severe damage, endangering its occupants.
Bus passengers are vulnerable too. Motorcoaches often do not have seatbelts, and even if they do, passengers might move around while the bus is in motion. Luggage is often stored on the bus above the seats and could strike passengers if the bus crashes or block the aisles preventing them from exiting the vehicle in an emergency.
Depending on the circumstances, bus accident victims might suffer:
Any of these injuries could have a permanent impact on the individual’s ability to work, support themselves, and engage in activities he or she enjoys.
When claiming damages for injuries sustained in an accident, the injured person’s conduct could be a factor. According to 42 P.S. §7102, in a negligence case, a jury must determine—by percentage—how much responsibility each party had for an accident. If the injured person shares some of the blame, he or she can collect reduced damages. If the injured person bears more than 50 percent of the blame, the law bars them from collecting any damages.
A similar calculus controls pre-trial settlement negotiations. The bus company and other potentially responsible parties might assert that the injured person bears some responsibility for his or her own injuries. For example, if the injured person was a passenger in another vehicle, the bus company might contend the injuries would not have been as severe if he or she had been wearing a seatbelt.
A tenacious Greyhound bus accident lawyer in DuBois could stand up for the injured person’s right to collect full damages. A diligent legal professional could present evidence demonstrating that the responsible parties’ negligence had far more impact than the injured person’s behavior did.
If you are recovering from injuries suffered in a commercial motorcoach collision, the bus company and any other negligent parties should be held financially responsible for your losses. You could claim all your medical bills, lost wages, and even pain and suffering as damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
A DuBois Greyhound bus accident lawyer has experience negotiating favorable settlements with commercial transportation companies. Call today to begin working with a skilled legal advocate at Marcus & Mack.
