Busing services and drivers have an especially important duty to act responsibly and safely at all times because they carry multiple human passengers at once as opposed to cargo. When they don’t fulfill this duty of care and someone gets hurt as a result, they may hold civil liability for the effects of that injury—but only when the injured person can navigate the complex web of rules and restrictions that governs this unique type of personal injury claim.
When you’ve gotten hurt because of negligence by a bus driver or the organization they work for, you should contact a Mt. Laurel bus accident lawyer for help exploring your legal right to recovery. Whether you need to cover minor medical bills or have suffered a life-altering injury, our seasoned personal injury attorneys can protect your rights and pursue the money you deserve for your damages.
Jon Ostroff, Rich Godshall, and their team won over $21 million for several passengers injured in a severe crash caused by a fatigued Greyhound bus driver. Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers have successfully handled thousands of motor vehicle accident cases.
Demanding Compensation After a Commercial Bus Crash
In many situations, an attorney can hold private companies like Greyhound and Megabus vicariously liable for negligence by their employees that leads to a bus passenger or anyone else involved in a bus accident suffering a preventable injury. Taking action against the company itself in addition to or as an alternative to suing an individual driver can be key to recovering fairly for long-term consequences of this sort of incident, such as:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and trauma
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Expected future medical expenses and other costs not covered by insurance
- Lost work wages and earning ability
- Personal property damage, including car repair/replacement costs
A traffic collision isn’t the only scenario where a bus driver or company may be liable for an injury to a passenger. For example, when a bus driver slams on their brakes suddenly and causes a passenger to fall out of their seat and break their arm, that bus driver might be considered negligent for causing that injury when their own irresponsible actions led to them braking in that way. A Mt. Laurel bus injury attorney can offer more specific guidance about what recovery options you might have in your situation.
What Are the Rules for Public Transit Lawsuits?
The New Jersey Tort Claims Act explicitly discusses auto accidents involving government employees as an exception to the immunity local governments usually have from civil liability. This Act also imposes several unique restrictions on injury claims based on public bus accidents in Mt. Laurel and throughout the state, all of which a skilled lawyer can explain in more detail.
There is usually a much shorter filing deadline for lawsuits over public bus wrecks because you have to formally notify the government body you intend to sue within months of your accident. Additionally, you may not be able to recover for non-economic damages like physical pain and suffering unless you suffered a very serious injury that’s expected to cause permanent and debilitating harm.
A Mt. Laurel Bus Accident Attorney Can Help
For numerous reasons, filing suit over a bus crash can be challenging even by the usual standards of car accident litigation. Even when you’ve dealt with an auto accident claim before, you’ll likely need help from experienced legal counsel in order to get a favorable case result after an accident involving a bus operator.
Fortunately, our well-known Mt. Laurel bus accident lawyers can step in to help. Call today to learn more about your legal options.
