Marietta Bus Accident Lawyer
Whether we use it to commute to work or school, go to a doctor’s appointment, or even take a night out on the town, public transportation is an important component of the lifestyle of many Marietta residents. However, riding a bus, unfortunately, does not come without risks, and accidents that do occur can lead to serious injuries and long-term damages.
If you suffer injuries in a bus accident, you may want a Marietta bus accident lawyer on your side throughout any ensuing civil suit process you wish to undertake. An experienced personal injury attorney could paint a picture to all defendants involved—or, if necessary, a civil court—to prove the damages you suffered and help you pursue appropriate compensation.
Bus Accident Injuries and Damages
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there was 4,311 fatal accident involving large trucks and buses in 2015 alone, an eight percent increase compared to the previous year. Furthermore, across the U.S. from 2005 to 2015, school buses accounted for 41 percent of all buses involved in fatal accidents, with transit buses and intercity buses accounting for 33 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
Injuries from a bus accident can range from a simple scratch or a bruise to debilitating conditions that can change a victim’s life forever. Victims may suffer broken bones, grave damage to their internal organs, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries.
Often, injured victims in a bus accident need to spend several days, weeks, or months in the hospital in order to recover. They may also need special medications or therapy to help improve their health and their future. All these treatments can be incredibly expensive, and without restitution from a successful civil case and help from an experienced Marietta bus accident attorney in obtaining it, accident victims may be stuck with the bill themselves.
Recoverable Compensation After a Bus Crash
Official Code of Georgia §51-12-4 provides for damages to be granted in compensation for a personal injury in light of a successful civil lawsuit or settlement. Under Georgia personal injury and motor vehicle laws, injured bus accident victims may seek compensation for any or all of the following:
- Past and future medical bills in relation to injuries;
- Loss of enjoyment of life;
- Disfigurement and/or permanent disability;
- Expenses relating to household services needed during recovery;
- Lost wages and/or lost earning capacity;
- Medical expenses;
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss of consortium.
In order to recover successfully, though, a plaintiff must prove legal negligence by one or more parties. In essence, a person may be considered legally negligent if they breach a duty of care they have to protect someone else and cause physical injury to that person as a direct result of their action or inaction.
Bus drivers are almost always defendants in bus accident cases and may be held liable for distracted, impaired, or dangerous driving. However, in certain cases, a bus driver’s employer may be liable for failing to properly vet or train the driver, or a mechanic may bear liability for not servicing the bus properly and allowing a mechanical issue to cause a crash.
In certain cases, the defendant(s) in a bus accident case may try to assign some degree of responsibility for injuries to the plaintiff as a way of minimizing their own liability. For instance, insurance companies working on behalf of bus companies may try to argue that a bus passenger was negligent during a bus accident because they were standing up or out of their seat when it occurred. A diligent bus accident lawyer in Marietta could help contest such allegations and work to maximize recoverable damages.
Contact a Marietta Bus Accident Lawyer
In the aftermath of a serious bus accident, an attorney could clearly explain your options and identify what your next move should be. Following that, they could help you craft a thorough and powerful case and work hard on your behalf to demonstrate the damages you are facing and the compensation you need as a result to defendants, juries, and judges alike. To get started on your case, call a Marietta bus accident lawyer today.
