Accidents involving a bus can be complicated because there may be several liable entities. As a result, you may not know where to begin to receive compensation for your injuries and probably have many questions. After a bus accident, call the experienced Mississippi attorneys at Richard Schwartz & Associates for a free consultation and get answers.
Were You Injured in a Bus Accident? Make Sure You Know Your Rights – 601-988-8888
Car crashes are dangerous enough, but what happens if you’re in an accident with a bus? Whether you’re a bus passenger, a driver in another vehicle, or a pedestrian/cyclist, you could find yourself facing serious injuries. Insurance may help you cover the costs—if you can figure out where to file your claim and how to defend it.
Commercial accident liability is a different domain than personal insurance, especially if the government is involved. Make sure you have an experienced lawyer on your side if you’re seeking compensation after a bus accident.
Types of Bus Accident Injuries
Like car crashes, bus accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries depending on the circumstances. Victims may suffer:
- Whiplash
- Sprains
- Dislocated joints
- Torn ligaments
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Herniated disks
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Organ damage
- Loss of limb
- Internal bleeding
Some of these injuries can require extensive treatment, or even alter your life forever. Anyone involved in a collision, even a passenger on the bus, should visit a doctor for a professional evaluation as soon as possible.
Tour Bus Accidents
Whether you’re on a cross-country road trip or a ride to an attraction one town over, traveling by bus saves you the work of driving and lets you skip straight to the fun with a tour guide. In return, the company operating the bus has a responsibility to keep you safe. If any other companies are involved—sometimes destinations will help sponsor tours that bring them customers—they may share in the liability should the driver cause an accident.
City Bus Accidents
Public transit is funded by the government and typically operated by public employees, meaning the liability rests with either the city or the state. You won’t be working with insurance held by the driver, but by the government. Adding more bureaucracy into any process tends to introduce new complexities. If you’re confused about how to start a claim or how to follow up, ask one of our team members for help.
School Bus Accidents
Though school buses are government-funded, they are often operated by contractors. The school district and/or the company providing the buses and drivers may both be liable for issues including poor driving, missed maintenance, or other hazards arising from either of their negligence.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against the Government?
Private transit companies have tremendous legal resources at their disposal in the face of a lawsuit, but despite that, they are often easier to sue than the government. Here’s what you need to know if you’re in a dispute with any state-owned entity.
Special Procedural Requirements
Before you can even start a case against the government, you may have to work with internal departments to try to resolve your claim. If that doesn’t work, you can’t just take them to court. First, you must file a written claim of notice. Then, you only have a certain amount of time to file suit (and it’s much shorter than the 3-year statute of limitations for most civil claims in Mississippi). You’ll want a lawyer on your side to ensure you meet their exact instructions, so your case isn’t thrown out.
Experienced Attorneys for Your Bus Accident Claim
If you’ve been injured in an accident, recovering can take a lot of your time and energy. However, you don’t want to let your opportunity to receive compensation slip away. Richard Schwartz & Associates is here to advocate for you.
