Buses are a useful form of transportation. Reading residents who do not drive or own a car can take the BARTA bus to commute to work or school or run daily errands. Berks County residents looking to travel long distances can take buses like Greyhound, Megabus, or Trailways.
Although buses provide numerous benefits to the community, they also present certain hazards. These large vehicles can be difficult to maneuver. Bus operators must take appropriate care to protect their passengers and everyone else on the road. If you were injured in an accident involving a bus, you need the help of a skilled injury attorney with experience winning against these large bus companies.
Founding Partner Jon Ostroff is not afraid to take on the largest bus companies in the world. In a past case, he recovered $21.3 million against Greyhound Bus Company after a driver fell asleep and crashed a bus full of passengers. If you or a loved one were hurt in a collision involving one of these vehicles, speak with a Reading bus accident lawyer from Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Proving Negligence After an Accident in Reading
When seeking compensation for injuries suffered in an accident from an at-fault party, you must prove that the other person or company was negligent. Negligence occurs when someone fails to act in a reasonable way and causes you harm.
To prove fault, you must meet your burden of presenting ample evidence demonstrating how the at-fault party’s actions were negligent and caused your injuries and losses. Our attorneys in Reading can investigate your case to determine the cause of the bus crash and establish negligence.
Depending on the cause of your crash, evidence could include maintenance records and repair history for the specific bus. The driver’s personnel file, training records, driving history and cell phone data could also be relevant. Information about the operation of traffic control devices, weather and traffic conditions at the scene, or any history of vehicle accidents in the area may also turn out to be valuable pieces of evidence.
Who Could be Liable for a Bus Accident?
Anyone whose negligence contributed to your injuries can be liable to pay you compensation. In a bus accident case, you might seek financial recovery from several potentially liable parties.
The owner of the bus would be a likely party that is responsible for your damages. If a different company employed the driver, that corporation could also be liable. If mechanical failure was an issue, the bus manufacturer, or the company responsible for maintaining the vehicle could share liability. When road design or maintenance or malfunctioning traffic control devices contributed to an accident, a governmental entity might be liable.
A skilled lawyer from our firm can investigate the conditions that led to the bus accident and identify all potentially responsible parties. Filing claims against all parties whose negligence played a role in the incident is required if you intend to hold them responsible.
Filing a Notice of Claim
Many buses are run or operated by local governments or state agencies. 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated § 5522 establishes time periods for filing a Notice of Claim against a state or local government.
The Notice of Claim must include specific information about the incident and the harm you suffered. Additionally, the document must list the contact information for the physician who treated your injuries. If you do not file the notice on time or file a document that does not contain all the required information, you could lose your right to bring a lawsuit.
Consulting with one of our personal injury attorneys immediately after a bus collision could give us a head start in analyzing whether a local government’s negligence might have been a factor in your incident. If time is short, our legal team could file the Notice of Claim on your behalf and withdraw it later, if necessary. Swift action is the best way to preserve your right to sue the state or a local government if they are partially responsible for your accident.
Seek Help From a Reading Bus Crash Attorney
If you were injured in an incident involving a bus, you might be dealing with severe injuries and mounting medical bills. Getting fair compensation from the responsible parties are too much to handle on your own.
You can rely on our Reading bus accident lawyers to investigate your incident, identify negligence, and hold the at-fault parties responsible. Contact Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to schedule a free initial appointment with a legal professional.
