Alpharetta Bus Accident Lawyers
Next to industrial trucks and motor carriers, commercial buses are among the largest vehicles on the road. If you were involved in a bus accident, you may have suffered serious, even permanent, injuries. If your vehicle was hit by a bus, odds are it may have been totaled or damaged significantly. Contact a dedicated Alpharetta bus accident lawyer.
Whether your accident resulted from a collision with a bus while you were in another vehicle, you were a passenger on a bus involved in a crash, or a pedestrian struck by a bus, a skilled injury lawyer could help. Compensation could help alleviate unwanted financial pressure from unexpected injuries.
Understanding Alpharetta Bus Accidents
There are a wide variety of buses on the roads daily, publicly or privately operated, and unfortunately, bus operators often commit negligence resulting in accidents with wide-ranging consequences. The type of bus involved in a motor vehicle wreck will generally have a significant impact on a lawsuit and the course of the investigation and even the litigation. The different types of buses involved in bus accidents may include:
- School buses
- Commercial buses
- Tour buses
- Shuttle buses
- Church buses
Potential Injuries in Bus Collisions
Unfortunately, because of the size and speed of the buses listed above, many bus accidents may result in severe injuries or fatalities. If a loved one was killed, filing a wrongful death suit on behalf of the decedent’s estate could be a viable option. Non-fatal bus accident injuries may result in a long period of recuperation and even lifelong disability. Common bus accident injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Internal bleeding
- Neck and back injuries
An Alpharetta bus accident lawyer could help an individual pursue damages for any injuries sustained.
Bus Collisions vs. Regular Motor Vehicle Crashes
Besides their sheer size, buses have something else in common with large commercial trucks. Buses are seldom owned by an individual, unlike most smaller motor vehicles. Large companies or government agencies, including state or local governments, own the vast majority of buses on the road. The owners of the buses may be liable for the crash by and through the negligence of their bus drivers, along with drivers of any other vehicles involved contributing to a wreck.
If the accident resulted from some defective aspect with the bus, the manufacturer may also be liable and a party to the lawsuit. The same holds true if poor maintenance contributed to the crash – mechanics and repair shops may bear responsibility if they fail to inspect a reasonably obvious defect or certify that a bus is fit for use when it has glaring mechanical issues.
In other words, there are often multiple insurance companies to deal with, just like with any other motor vehicle accidents. That often means the heavy involvement of multiple legal teams defending the each of the liable companies, individuals, or government agencies. Another complex aspect of a bus accident is that, unlike passenger cars, buses do not usually have seat belts to keep passengers restrained, and they certainly do not have airbags for passengers. Insurance companies and their defense teams may somehow try to use this against an injured person to show comparative fault, perhaps claiming the victim was up from their seat or standing.
Let an Alpharetta Bus Accident Lawyer Help
A skilled attorney could investigate the circumstances of the accident and examine the evidence. While statutes of limitations exist in all personal injury cases, they may be especially short when a public entity is involved. Early notice law – called ante litem notice – is typically required when a plaintiff brings an action against a state or local entity. In these situations, the notice period is often just six months from the date of the incident, so time is of the essence. Contact an experienced Alpharetta bus accident lawyer that could fight for you.
