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If you were injured in a bus accident, once you have received medical care, you should consider reaching out to a personal injury attorney for legal guidance and representation as soon as you are able. Unlike car accident cases, all bus accidents include several parties that may be responsible, which can make determining fault in a bus accident a little more complex. Fortunately for you, our team of attorneys has years of experience helping accident survivors contend with their medical and legal needs.
Determining Fault in a Bus Accident | Bus Drivers
It is highly unusual for a passenger or a pedestrian to be at fault in a bus accident. More often than not, the blame lies with the bus driver, the driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash, the company that owns the bus, the bus’s manufacturer, or even the school district that manages the bus route.
Much like truck-related accidents, bus accidents can happen when drivers do not check their blind spots and do not see nearby cars and other vehicles. Bus drivers may neglect to do this if they are in the middle of a long shift, but inclement weather may play a role in reducing visibility. Distracted driving is also a common culprit.
Determining Fault in a Bus Accident | Injured as a Passenger
Alternatively, the driver of one of the other vehicles in the accident may be at fault, and a Houston bus accident lawyer would approach this type of collision differently. Passenger vehicle drivers who do not respect the rules of the road can contribute to the risk of an accident. Cutting in front of a bus, refusing to stop when a bus is making a turn, or inadvertently hiding in the bus driver’s blind spots are all patently unsafe actions, and even the most experienced of bus drivers may find it impossible to come to a stop under these circumstances. Because the bus driver may not be considered at fault in examples such as these, your attorney may consider pursuing the driver of the other vehicle in your case.
Determining Fault in a Bus Accident | Manufacture Defects
Sometimes, there is no driver at fault, and the root of the accident goes far deeper. If there is a mechanical failure immediately before the accident, the manufacturer could be sued for producing and selling an unsafe vehicle. The blame may lie instead with the private company that hired the driver and commissioned the bus for failing to provide appropriate training and maintenance. If a bus’s tire suddenly bursts or the brakes cut out, the manufacturer or private company — or both — could be to blame.
If you have been injured in a bus-related accident in the Houston Metro Area, please contact experienced personal injury attorney Hector Longoria today.
