Liability In Bus Accidents - A Complicated Issue
Posted on June 17, 2008 - Filed Under Legal and Law
Bus accidents are more complex than many other motor vehicle collisions for several reasons. In addition to involving a larger, heavier vehicle, dozens of passengers, and safety features which vary from state to state and bus to bus, accidents involving buses must also deal with the complicated task of assigning and proving liability.
If you have been in a bus accident, your first instinct may be to place blame solely on the driver - which may or may not be correct. The truth is that responsibility for your crash-related injuries may rest only partially on the driver, or not on the driver at all. A variety of factors can contribute to, exacerbate, or influence the result of a crash; examining and understanding these factors is key to determining liability in any accident situation.
Finding the Responsible Party
Because bus accidents are so complex, there is often more than one responsible party. In any given accident, responsible parties may include:
The Driver - depending on the situation, the negligence or carelessness of the driver may be the main cause of the accident, and the driver may be held responsible in court. Driver fatigue and intoxication have all been shown to lead to serious crashes.
The Bus Company - the law says that bus companies are at least partially responsible for the conduct of their employees. Furthermore, if a company overworked its drivers, failed to give them an adequate amount of training, or hired untrustworthy individuals as employees, it may be held liable for any damages resulting from its shoddy practices.
Manufacturers/Repair Companies - in some situations, faulty manufacturing or design of a vehicle can lead to accidents. Improperly installed or maintained equipment, such as tires, brakes, and steering mechanisms, can also cause drivers to lose control and crash. Negligence or misconduct on the part of a manufacturer or repair facility may make them liable for your injuries.
Other Drivers - reckless driving by individuals around the bus can distract the driver, block the road, or otherwise contribute to accidents. These individuals can be found liable in a court of law.
Disruptive Passengers - if a driver has to deal with unruly or disruptive passengers while operating the bus, the chance of a serious accident increases. In some cases, passengers have even attempted to assault the driver while the vehicle was in motion.
To learn more about assigning legal responsibility for bus accidents, visit the website of bus accident attorneys Williams Kherkher at http://www.bus-accident-lawyer.com
Joseph Devine
Tags: bus accident attorney, bus accident lawyer, bus crash attorney, bus crash lawyer, bus injury lawyer
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