School Bus Accidents in Austin
Although school buses tend to be one of the safest modes of transportation, accidents still happen, and children and adults are injured because of school bus accidents in Austin. If you or a loved one were injured as a result of a school bus collision, you may be able to gain compensation to recover your losses.
A bus crash attorney can carefully investigate the incident, determine the amount of damages, and fight for compensation in a civil lawsuit.
Liability in a School Bus Accident
When school bus crashes happen in Austin, a lawyer needs to find out who is responsible for the damages. Sometimes, this is obvious, but in other cases, liability can be more complex because the crash could have been caused by multiple factors. Several people or organizations could be held liable.
Bus Driver
School bus drivers can become easily distracted by the children on the bus, their phone, or something else that they are paying attention to, and as a result, they could drive negligently. If the negligence resulted in a crash, the driver could be held responsible for the damages.
School District
In some cases, the bus driver may not have the right credentials to operate the bus, but the school district hired them anyway. If the school district was negligent by not properly screening their employees or not training them properly, they could be at fault through vicarious liability, which is a concept that holds employers responsible for the actions of its employees.
Bus Maintenance Company
If the school bus accident was caused because of a failure in the bus itself, there may be an investigation into the maintenance of the bus. The company that was paid to maintain the bus may have failed to service the bus properly. This negligence could lead to liability of the maintenance company, even if no one in the maintenance company was directly involved in the crash.
Injured Person
If the person who was injured in the bus accident had some responsibility for the crash, they may still be eligible to collect compensation. According to the modified comparative negligence law in Texas, the injured person who had 50 percent or less of the fault in the accident could receive compensation, which is reduced according to the percentage of negligence.
Damages in a School Bus Accident
A personal injury lawyer can determine the total amount of economic and non-economic damages caused by the Austin school bus accident. These damages may include:
- Medical expenses related to the injury
- Future medical care related to the injury
- Lost wages and the inability to work in the future
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Compensation awarded in a civil lawsuit can help ease the financial burden of the injury, so the injured person and their family can recover without worrying about where the money is going to come from.
Deadlines for Personal Injury Claims after a School Bus Accident
When a Texas school district is involved in the accident, there needs to be a notice of intent if the injured person is going to file a claim. Each school district has a deadline for when the notice of intent needs to be filed. An attorney can ensure the deadline is met for your claim involving a school bus crash in Austin. Deadlines typically range from 30 days to six months after the accident, which means it is important to get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible.
Speak to an Attorney After a School Bus Accident in Austin
Do not delay getting the legal assistance you need. School bus accidents in Austin can lead to injury and financial distress, but we can help you protect your rights by fighting for the compensation you deserve.
Call us today to learn more about your options. We get positive results that make a difference in the lives of our clients.
