According to Tennessee law, any vehicle carrying nine or more passengers legally qualifies as a bus or common carrier. Anyone injured while riding a bus deserves to be compensated for their losses. The same applies to other drivers who get into accidents caused by bus drivers and negligent bus companies.
Bus companies often have large legal teams fighting to secure their bottom line profits. That is why individuals like you need a Bartlett bus accident lawyer to fight the legal battle on their behalf. To schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer, use the contact form featured here on this page.
What Causes Bus Accidents?
The reasons for bus accidents are varied. There is no singular cause for all bus accidents. To understand what caused your bus accident, you need to know what factors can contribute to an accident happening.
Some common causes of bus accidents include:
- Negligent bus drivers
- Distracted bus drivers
- Intoxicated bus drivers
- Disobedience to traffic laws
- Inexperienced bus drivers
- Mechanical failure of bus components
To get to the root of what caused the bus accident you were injured in, get support from a Bartlett bus accident lawyer. They will collect evidence on your behalf, ensuring that you have everything needed to find out why the accident occurred and if the bus driver or bus company is liable.
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Filing a Bus Accident Claim
Bus accidents can have devastating outcomes for victims. Buses are incredibly large, and when moving at high speeds, they can cause massive amounts of damage to people and their property. Whether you were a passenger on a bus or another driver who was hit by a bus, you have the right to file a claim against the bus driver or their employer.
To start the process of filing a bus accident claim, you first need to speak to a bus accident attorney in Bartlett. You can file the claim on your own, but if you do so, the chances of recovering maximum compensation are diminished. Do not take this risk; instead, seek legal counsel from an experienced Bartlett bus accident attorney.
Types of Bus Accident Claims
The type of bus accident claim you need to file may depend on the type of bus involved in the accident that injured you. Some examples of buses that may be involved in accidents in Tennessee include:
- School buses
- Public transit buses
- Regional transport buses
- Charter buses
- Church buses
- Daycare buses
Regardless of what type of bus you or your loved one were hurt by, a Bartlett bus accident lawyer should be equipped to bring a claim against the liable party. Though, depending on who owns and operates the bus, the circumstances of your case can vary.
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What Makes Bus Accidents More Complicated than Normal Car Accidents?
In bus accidents, liability is often shared amongst numerous parties. When you file your bus accident claim, expect that you will need to take action against multiple parties. This makes bus accident lawsuits inherently more complex.
Do not think that a driver’s mistakes make them the only party liable for your accident. Even if they made errors, the bus company may still hold some of the responsibility for the accident. This makes recovering compensation complicated in many cases, especially when the party that owns and operates the bus is a public agency.
Suing the government is difficult and far more complicated than suing an individual or private organization. Additionally, bus manufacturers and mechanics can potentially hold some liability that must be considered. Beyond that, plaintiffs in bus accident cases also need to evaluate whether or not other drivers on the road were responsible for the accident in any way.
Piecing all of this together is nearly impossible for someone without extensive legal expertise. To secure a fair settlement or judgment from your bus accident claim, you will probably need assistance from a Bartlett bus accident lawyer. Without one, you may be forced to accept a lowball settlement offer from the bus operator or their insurance.
Buses Are Highly Regulated
Buses must obey a strict set of regulations that prevent them from engaging in certain actions and require organizations to perform routine maintenance and inspections on their vehicles. If any of these regulations were not abided by and the bus gets into an accident, an investigation by a Bartlett bus accident lawyer can uncover that fact. This adds additional support to your claim, which can equate to a higher settlement offer.
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Time Limits for Bus Accident Claims
If you were injured in a bus accident in Tennessee, you need to work on filing a claim immediately. In this state, you only have one year to file a personal injury claim. If you miss this deadline, you are usually barred from recovering any compensation from the liable parties.
A year is not very long at all. That is why you need to submit your claim as soon as possible. This is especially true if your claim involves large bus operators, like Greyhound or a government organization.
Typical Compensation for Bus Accident Claims
Bus accidents offer the same compensation types as other personal injury cases. This includes economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income or wages
- Lost career opportunities
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Other intangible losses
A Bartlett bus accident lawyer can assess your claim to determine how much your case could be worth. Using their knowledge of current legal standards and previous client outcomes, they will calculate what your total damages are and then pursue compensation through the legal process.
Recover Maximum Compensation in Your Bus Accident Claim in Bartlett
To navigate the complex process of filing a bus accident claim, potentially against multiple liable parties, you will need the support of an experienced legal team. Fortunately, Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi is prepared to assist you. To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, fill out the contact form on this page.
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