Public transportation moves alongside many drivers in their own cars, sometimes filling the streets with larger buses and dozens of passengers. A bus on a busy street or highway can pose a distinct risk if involved in a crash.
If you are injured as a bus passenger or as another driver in a collision, a Midland bus accident lawyer can help you make a claim based on your injuries. At Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, LLP, our knowledgeable personal injury attorneys can investigate your case and work on behalf of your interests.
Because of its size and length, a bus requires greater control and skill to drive safely than a typical car. Bus drivers must acquire a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Texas in order to drive a bus or large truck.
Even with this additional licensing, however, a bus driver may end up causing an accident if distracted, impaired, or simply careless. Texting while driving, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and driving aggressively can all lead to a bus hitting other cars or causing them to swerve suddenly to avoid a collision, only to hit something else.
Other causes can result in an accident too, such as inclement weather conditions and defective parts or maintenance on a bus. No matter the exact cause, a bus accident can see injuries become severe or even deadly, as the increased force of a bus collision can turn mild concussions into traumatic injuries, and cuts and bruises into broken bones and internal organ damage.
These kinds of injuries can incur huge medical bills, a need for future accommodations, and even the need to change careers. With the aid of a bus accident attorney in Midland, a compensation claim can make up for these negative effects and costs.
A compensation claim coming out of a bus crash will likely involve negligence, that of the driver or even of the bus company in certain cases. Proving negligence requires evidence showing that the responsible party had a duty of care, breached that duty through unreasonable action, and caused damages.
Damages can include medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and even pain and suffering. The key is evidence, both in gathering it and presenting it to support the damages claimed and the fault of the other party. Fortunately, an attorney can take the lead on gathering evidence after a Midland bus crash, interviewing witnesses and obtaining official documentation (police reports and surveillance footage, for example).
Determining who should be sued is also a key part of building evidence for a claim. Was only the bus driver to blame, or does the bus company have some form of liability? Was the accident caused partly by some other factor? The investigation and work of a lawyer can answer these questions shortly after an accident to guide a claim to fruition.
An attorney can also make sure that a claim develops quickly enough to file within the statute of limitations. Under Texas Code § 16.003, injury claims must be filed within two years of the accident or else a plaintiff risks losing the ability to recover damages.
Putting your life back together after a serious collision can take all your strength and resources. You do not, however, need to do it alone. Our Midland bus accident lawyers can provide the assistance you need to get back on your feet after a crash. To learn more about a possible compensation claim, contact our offices for a free consultation.
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