Victims of bus accidents, whether public or private, are protected to a certain extent in regards to the law. In fact, such protections surrounding bus accidents fall under common carrier law, as do all other forms of public transportation, including school buses, taxi cabs, subways, trolleys, cables cars, trains, boats, ferries, cruise ships, helicopters, airplanes, and even limousines in some states. If you or someone you love was recently involved in a bus accident, and has suffered serious injuries as a result, it is in your best interest to learn your rights to collecting compensation for your subsequent damages and losses.
Continue reading to learn what you need to know about bus accidents, injuries, laws, and more.
Common Carriers
As you might have caught on, a common carrier is considered any business that is licensed or authorized by a regulatory government body to transport people, services, or goods, and offers their services to the general public for a fee. And they can be a public or private entity. Common carrier laws are regulated on local, state, and federal levels, wherein the federal government regulates transportation of people, goods, and services across country borders, and local and state governments regulate interstate travel.
Bus Accidents and Liability
Under common carrier law, bus companies have a responsibility to maintain the safety of their passengers. In fact, common carriers have a higher-than-normal duty of care since they offer their services to the general public and charge a fee for them. They must maintain the highest level of caution possible to ensure their passengers and cargoes are safe at all times while in their care. And if a common carrier, a bus company for instance, fails to maintain this level of care, their failure can be considered negligence, which is the number one element of a personal injury case.
Bus Accident Injury Claims
There are several possibilities of a bus company demonstrating negligence. Driver negligent can include speeding, fatigued driving, intoxicated driving, disobeying traffic signals, drug use, and so forth. Company negligence can include a wide range of circumstances, such as improper or negligent bus maintenance and repair, insufficient handicap equipment, unsafe environments, inadequate training, and more. Failure to prevent or address these issues and those similar can cost a bus company a lawsuit if a passenger is injured as a result. They can be held responsible for a victim’s damages and losses that resulting from the bus accident and subsequent injuries.
Government Regulated Common Carriers
Suing the government for losses resulting from a public transportation accident can be quite complex. It is very challenging to sue a government entity because they are subject to a separate set of laws, limitations, and restrictions. But that does not mean it is impossible to recover compensation after being seriously injured in a bus accident. All you need is a licensed personal injury lawyer with extensive trial and litigation experience. They have the knowledge, skills, and resources to protect your rights and obtain the fair compensation you deserve.
Indiana Bus Accident Lawyers Who Can Help
Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with a licensed bus accident lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorneys Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek have extensive trial and litigation experience, and can recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after being injured in a bus accident. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation and have your case evaluated by a knowledgeable bus accident attorney you can trust.
