Public transit is an integral part of life in Florida. Unfortunately, more buses on the road can lead to more bus accidents. If you have suffered an injury due to a bus crash, a personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover the damages you deserve.
Whether you were injured as a passenger on the bus, a driver in another vehicle, or as a pedestrian, you may have the right to pursue a lawsuit to recover your damages caused by a bus wreck. To get started on your case, contact a Palm Harbor bus accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Damages Available in a Bus Accident Lawsuit
In a bus accident, the potential for severe injury is high. These large vehicles weigh more than regular passenger vehicles, so when commercial buses strike other vehicles or fixed objects, the impact can be immense. After a crash, a Palm Harbor bus accident attorney can take on the role of identifying and evaluating damages stemming from the collision.
There are two types of recoverable damages in a typical civil case: economic damages and non-economic damages. With economic damages, dollar values are assigned based on medical expenses, lost wages, or other quantifiable losses. These damages usually involve recouping a specified amount of money. Non-economic damages are subjective and designed to compensate a victim for more intangible things like pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life.
Some common examples of damages in a bus accident include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage repair bills
- Permanent disability
Potential Sources of Compensation
Depending on the circumstances, there are often several potential sources of monetary compensation following a serious bus wreck. A Palm Harbor lawyer with experience in bus crash cases could work with an individual plaintiff to identify all the parties who may be liable in their case and seek appropriate restitution from them.
The Bus Driver
The most obvious source of compensation in a bus accident case is a negligent bus driver. When a bus driver acts carelessly, recklessly, or in any way that violates a duty of care to passengers and other drivers, a plaintiff may initiate a lawsuit and seek damages in the event an accident results.
Bus Company
There are a variety of ways a plaintiff could pursue damages against a bus company following a crash. If the bus driver was on the clock at the time of the crash, the plaintiff might be able to include the company as a defendant under the doctrine of respondeat superior. However, a bus company could also face liability for hiring an unqualified driver or failing to properly maintain the bus.
Insurance Companies
Most of the time, the compensation recovered in a bus crash accident comes from an insurance company. Bus owners and operators are required to carry insurance, and those policies frequently pay damages in a bus crash lawsuit.
Contact a Palm Harbor Bus Accident Attorney
With the right legal counsel, you can focus on recovering for your injuries while you leave the complexities of the legal process to your attorney. To learn more about how a Palm Harbor bus accident lawyer could help you with your injury claim, call today to schedule an initial consultation.
