Bus drivers and the organizations they work for are categorized as common carriers, because they carry human beings—as opposed to cargo—in larger-than-normal vehicles. This designation means bus drivers and companies have an especially important duty of care, requiring them to make sure their passengers and everyone around them are kept safe from avoidable harm. Any breach of that duty that leads directly to an injury could be the basis for a civil lawsuit.
On top of the standard rules and procedures that apply to personal injury claims, you may also need to contend with several unique restrictions that only apply to bus accident claims when you get hurt due to a bus driver or bus company’s misconduct. Getting past those restrictions without a seasoned personal injury attorney’s help can be next to impossible. If you’ve recently been hurt in any kind of accident involving a commercial or public bus, contact a York bus accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Jon Ostroff, Rich Godshall, and their team won over $21 million for several passengers injured in a wreck caused by a fatigued Greyhound bus driver. This was the largest verdict at trial against Greyhound in the history of Pennsylvania. Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers have successfully handled thousands of motor vehicle accident cases.
What Damages Can You Seek Compensation For?
Bus accidents tend to cause especially serious injuries, even when they happen at low speeds, because bus passengers often aren’t wearing safety belts and don’t have airbags as commuter car passengers do. For this reason, it can be especially important when pursuing a civil claim to account for all the effects the accident will have on your life, including losses that don’t have objective financial values. Depending on the circumstances, this could mean demanding repayment for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Any medical bills not covered by insurance, including expected costs of long-term care, physical therapy, prescription medication, and assistive equipment like wheelchairs or crutches
- Emotional trauma and anguish
- Lost working ability and work earnings or benefits
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Personal property damage, including car repair or replacement costs
A bus accident attorney in York can provide vital help with identifying, assigning a fair value to, and effectively seeking compensation for all your recoverable losses.
Special Rules for Public Bus Accident Claims
When you are hurt in an accident involving a commercially operated bus, there typically aren’t restrictions on your ability to file suit that wouldn’t apply to other types of auto accident claims. The same is not true for claims filed against a city or municipality over a public bus crash, as a knowledgeable York lawyer can explain in more detail.
For example, even when you can prove a local government employee is 100% to blame for your injuries and losses, the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act indicates a local or municipal government entity can’t pay more than $500,000 in total damages per accident, even when multiple people were hurt. Anyone who intends to sue a local government entity over an injury has to notify that entity of their plans within six months of getting hurt, which is much shorter than the two-year filing deadline set by state law for most injury claims.
Get in Touch with a York Bus Accident Attorney Today
This is just a brief overview of how uniquely complicated civil lawsuits and settlement proposals over bus crashes can be. When you’ve been hurt due to negligence by a bus driver or anyone else involved in this sort of incident, you should not try to demand civil compensation on your own.
Representation from a skilled York bus accident lawyer will make a world of difference in your odds of getting a favorable case result. Call us today to learn more during a free, no-obligation consultation.
