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The process for recovering financial compensation after a bus accident can be complicated. There are multiple parties who may be liable for a crash involving a large bus. Assessing fault for your collision will be a crucial step in determining who to sue.
Furthermore, the defendant in your case may use various legal strategies to avoid paying you the damages you are owed. Guidance from our legal team can be highly valuable when investigating your accident and fighting for fair compensation.
In the immediate aftermath of your bus accident in Plano, TX, seek support from our experienced bus accident lawyers by calling The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797.
Who Can You Sue After Suffering a Bus Accident in Plano, TX?
There are several different parties you may be able to sue after suffering a bus accident in Plano. During our free assessment of your potential case, our bus accident attorneys will evaluate the strength of your claim against the following parties:
Bus Drivers
If your accident happened because of negligence exhibited by a bus driver, then you may bring claim against that driver directly. However, in some cases, bus drivers may lack the resources to fully compensate victims of their crashes. Thankfully, there are other parties who may be held accountable for such accidents.
Bus Companies
Private bus companies can often be sued for damages their drivers cause. For instance, if a charter bus company hired an inexperienced an unqualified driver to operate one of their vehicles, then the company could be sued for injuries that driver caused. Further, a bus company may be sued for a crash that happens because they did not perform proper maintenance on their fleet. Assistance from our legal team can be very helpful when assessing your case against a private bus company.
Other Drivers
Some bus accidents happen because of negligence exhibited by other, third-party motorists. For instance, a bus may crash because it was pushed off the road by a drunk driver. In that case, the at-fault driver could be sued for the injuries their accident caused. Therefore, determining fault for your bus crash is a crucial step toward recovering compensation for the harm you sustained.
Government Entities
If you were injured because of a crash involving a public bus, then you may be able to file a lawsuit against the government entity who operated the vehicle at issue. However, claims made against public entities can be complicated. Further, you must notify a government entity of your intent to sue within six months of the crash at issue. Accordingly, you should seek legal representation as quickly as possible after suffering an accident involving a public bus.
Manufacturers of Defective Parts
Finally, some bus accidents happen because of defective parts. For example, a bus may crash because it was equipped with a faulty braking system. Further, a bus accident may happen because a vehicle’s brake lights were malfunctioning. In such cases, victims may be able to sue the manufacturers of the defective parts at issue.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Plano, TX
A high number of bus accidents happen because of drivers’ negligence. The following are all common causes of bus accidents in Plano:
Speeding
Most vehicles become more difficult to handle high speeds. However, large vehicles like busses can become especially hard to control. While speeding, bus drivers are prone to veering outside of their lanes and, in severe cases, rolling over. Furthermore, speeding bus drivers will have difficulty avoiding crashes when cars in front of them need to slow down or stop.
Unfortunately, collisions that happen at high speeds are more likely to result in severe harm. If you were hurt because of a crash caused by a speeding bus driver, then you may be entitled to significant compensation for the injuries you incurred.
Disobeying Traffic Signals
Disobeying traffic signals is another common form of negligence that leads to bus accidents. For example, a bus may be struck by another vehicle because its driver ran a red light. Furthermore, a bus may strike a pedestrian because its driver did not come to a full stop at a stop sign. In any case, drivers who disobey traffic signals can be held accountable for the accidents they cause.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is also a common cause of bus accidents. These types of accidents often happen at night but can occur at nearly any time of the day. While intoxicated, motorists will exhibit blurry vision, poor decision-making abilities, and delayed reaction times. Fortunately, drunk drivers can also be sued for bus accidents they cause. There are several different types of evidence that our team can utilize to prove that drunk drivers are at fault.
Improper Left Turns
Furthermore, many bus accidents happen because drivers make improper left turns. When motorists fail to yield the right-of-way, catastrophic collisions can happen with other vehicles travelling through intersections. If you suffered a bus accident because a motorist made an improper left turn, then you may be able to sue them for the damages you sustained.
Distracted Driving
Finally, distracted driving is a common source of bus accidents. While distracted, drivers are prone to committing reckless maneuvers behind the wheel.
There are multiple different forms of distraction that can occur. First, a motorist can be visually distracted if they take their eyes off the road. Second, a motorist can become manually distracted if they take their hands off the wheel. Finally, cognitive distraction can happen when a driver takes their mind off the task of driving.
There are several types of activities that can distract bus drivers and drivers of standard cars. For example, motorists’ attention may be diverted while texting, talking with passengers, eating, picking music for the stereo, or operating a GPS. Some activities can even involve multiple types of distraction. Thankfully, distracted drivers can also be sued for bus accidents they cause.
After Suffering a Bus Accident in Plano, TX, Call Our Law Firm for Help
Get help from our experienced bus accident attorneys by calling The Queenan Law Firm today at (817) 476-1797.