Getting fair financial compensation after being hurt in a traffic wreck involving a bus can be much more complicated than you might expect. Claims involve collecting significant evidence and determining the financial value of all your losses. You also need to determine which person or company is to blame for the accident.
Understanding liability in Allentown bus accident cases is key to achieving the compensation you deserve for your injuries. An experienced attorney like Founding Partner Jon Ostroff and the rest of the legal team at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can answer your questions and put you in a strong position for success.
We have an outstanding record of recovering damages against bus companies. In a 2016 trial against Greyhound Bus Company, we recovered over $5.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages for our clients. These punitive damages were over and above economic and non-economic recoveries for these four clients.
Who is Liable for a Bus Collision?
Just like with any other civil claim based on an auto accident, someone who is reckless or careless while driving a bus could be liable for any injuries resulting from their actions. However, it is not always wise to file suit only against a bus driver.
Most of the time, individual bus drivers do not have enough money or personal assets to pay for damages themselves. They may not have enough insurance coverage to make up the difference either. Fortunately, you and your Allentown attorney can typically name the bus driver’s employer—whether a private company or a government-run public transit agency—as a defendant in a claim for compensation.
Holding Bus Companies Liable for Crashes
Under the legal concept called respondeat superior, a company can often be held liable for negligent behavior by their employee. This is true even if no one else in the company was responsible for the employee’s careless behavior. In some situations, a bus company may be directly liable for a bus crash in Allentown. For example, the company might have been negligent in hiring the involved bus driver without the necessary licensing and experience for the job.
Who Else Could Be at Fault for a Bus Wreck?
Of course, not every bus accident is entirely the fault of a single bus driver. In fact, liability for a bus wreck in Allentown is rarely simple and straightforward, as our seasoned lawyers can attest.
For example, say a bus crashes into another car because its brakes went out while it was approaching a stoplight. In that situation, part of the blame for the crash could fall on a mechanic who did not keep the bus in safe working order. Alternatively, a bus manufacturer could be liable for making faulty brakes. In other situations, a crash may happen partially or primarily because of poor road conditions caused by negligent design and maintenance by local governments.
At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, our local attorneys can investigate a bus accident to determine who may be liable for your injuries. We will fight to get the payments you deserve from every responsible party.
Talk to an Allentown Attorney About Liability in Bus Accident Cases
After a bus accident, you may be wondering, “Whose fault is this?” Answering this question requires the legal expertise and experience of a law firm with a track record of success with bus crashes.
At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, our renowned legal team is here to explain liability in Allentown bus accident cases and fight for your best interests. We will handle your case from start to finish. You will not pay us a single cent unless and until we obtain the compensation you deserve. Give us a call today for a free consultation about your case.
