- May 11, 2020
- Bus Accidents
- Personal Injury
Though injuries sustained from bus accidents are relatively uncommon – only 24,000 people experience injuries from bus crashes annually in the U.S. – there is always a risk associated with taking the bus, as buses can get into accidents like any other passenger car. Every year, 360 million people take the bus, and there are 30,000 commercial buses on the road in the U.S. alone.Unlike car accidents, where it can be more clear who is liable for the accident, buses can be regulated by a public or private company, and depending on the behavior of the bus driver, the liability can fall to either the company or driver. It’s important to know the types of buses commonly associated with bus accident cases, as this will have an impact on your lawsuit.
Buses usually involved in accident lawsuits include:
- Private commercial buses: These include paid shuttles, tour buses, smaller charter buses, and Greyhounds
- Private non-commercial buses: These buses include those owned by churches, nursing homes, theme parks, and daycares
- Public, government-owned transportation: This includes public university buses, and within Michigan, the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) and Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT)
Depending on the cause of the accident and the type of bus involved, liability could fall to the bus driver, bus company, bus maintenance company, or the government. A bus driver is typically liable for injuries if they were especially negligent – otherwise, it’s fairly common for bus companies to be liable, as they’re in charge of properly training their employees.
Public Vs. Private Buses
If a bus is owned by the government, it has protections that a private bus company won’t have. The government or municipality will most likely be insured, which means they won’t have a policy limit. In addition, government bus drivers can’t be sued unless gross negligence is involved in the accident.
If a private bus is involved in a crash, then both the driver and the bus company can be sued, which shows how many more protections against claims governments have. Private bus companies may not always be self-insured, which means their have an insurance policy limit, capping the amount that can be recovered for damages.
If you’re been injured in an accident, you want to make sure that you receive the maximum compensation you’re entitled to in order to heal efficiently and return to your normal life. Our bus accident attorneys have years of experience holding negligent parties responsible for their actions.
Dedicated to Injured Bus Passengers
As a bus passenger, you have basic rights. When we use public transportation, or ride on a private bus, we expect bus drivers to drive safely and get us where we need to go without any issues or accidents that can harm us. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Our Goodman Acker P.C. bus accident attorneys are available to help you file a no-fault insurance benefit claim if you’ve been injured by a bus, or, if you don’t have an auto insurance policy, can help you consider other options, such as a personal injury lawsuit. If you or your family was injured, you deserve to seek justice.
Contact Goodman Acker P.C. online or at (248) 286-8100 if you’ve been involved in a bus accident and are suffering from your injuries. Our bus accident attorneys can determine liability and gather the evidence we need to fight for your rights to compensation.