Harker Heights Bus Accident Lawyer
Many people rely on buses and other forms of public transportation in Texas to get them to and from work and other activities. You may not be concerned about your safety when you ride a bus. Unfortunately, buses are involved in motor vehicle accidents every day.
Whether you are in a collision with a bus or are injured while a bus passenger, our personal injury attorneys could help. If you were not at fault for the accident, you have the right to compensation for your injuries and damages to your vehicle. A Harker Heights bus accident lawyer understands that the bus owner, driver, and certain government agencies may be liable for the accident and could ensure that you receive compensation from all responsible parties.
Deadline for Filing a Bus Accident Claim
A person injured in a bus accident generally has two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit to recover damages. A court may dismiss a claim if the injured party misses the deadline.
An exception to this ‘statute of limitations’ applies if the accident involved a government bus. The Texas Tort Claims Act requires an injured party to file a claim within six months of the accident. In some Texas cities, the deadline is even shorter. Because accident deadlines can vary across the state, it is essential to consult a bus accident attorney who is aware of the applicable statute of limitations.
Higher Standard of Care for Buses
Since the primary purpose of a bus is to transport people from one place to another in exchange for pay, buses are ‘common carriers’ in Harker Heights. As a common carrier, bus company drivers, owners, and employees must exercise a degree of care used by a very cautious and prudent person under the same or similar circumstances. This is a more rigorous standard of care than the ‘ordinary care’ standard for other motor vehicles and drivers and could make it easier for an injured party to recover damages.
As a common carrier, bus companies have a duty to:
- Hire qualified drivers
- Provide proper driver training
- Require all bus operators to comply with traffic laws
- Equip buses with reliable safety equipment
- Regularly inspect and maintain buses
A Harker Heights bus accident lawyer is aware of the increased duty of care and could determine if a bus owner or operator breached that duty.
Responsible Parties in a Bus Accident
People often point to the driver as the cause of a bus accident. In Texas, anyone who contributes to a bus accident could be responsible, including but not limited to:
- Drivers
- Bus company owners and employees
- Manufacturers of defective bus equipment
- Other drivers, including motorcyclists and bicyclists
- Pedestrians
- Government agencies
An injured party could recover damages from any party whose wrongful or negligent actions resulted in the bus accident. An experienced bus collision lawyer could identify and file a lawsuit against all responsible parties.
Recoverable Damages
A bus accident could negatively impact the injured party’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being. A bus accident attorney could seek damages for an accident victim’s medical bills, vehicle damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
An injured party’s spouse or other family member may have a loss of consortium claim due to a bus accident. This claim covers damages sustained by the victim’s family due to the victim’s severe injury or death. Loss of consortium includes losing the injured loved one’s companionship, financial support, and household contributions. An attorney experienced in bus collision cases could assess a family’s damages and determine whether a loss of consortium claim applies.
Call a Harker Heights Bus Accident Attorney
The consequences of a bus accident could affect you and your family for the rest of your lives. To support your claim, it is essential to document your injuries and the treatment you received. It is also important to identify the parties responsible for the accident to ensure that you receive fair compensation.
If you or a family member suffer an injury in a bus collision, a Harker Heights bus accident lawyer could help. Our firm’s attorneys maintain professional relationships with injury experts and could determine the value of your claim. Consult one of our experienced attorneys today.
