Austin Bus Accident Lawyer | Bus Wreck Attorney

Bus accidents are exceptionally dangerous and can leave many victims in their wake. In addition, bus accident claims tend to be more complicated than those involving other kinds of vehicle crashes. If a bus accident leaves you or someone you care about injured, a seasoned Austin bus accident lawyer from Schuelke Law has the legal insight to help.

When someone else’s negligence causes a bus crash, those parties should be held accountable. Our experienced injury attorney could provide the skilled legal guidance you need.

Many Buses in the City Are Government-Operated

If another driver’s actions have caused you to suffer injury, you can seek the compensation you deserve through a car accident claim. If the at-fault party, however, is a bus company or a bus driver, things become more complicated. For example, if you are suing a bus driver or a bus company, there is a good chance the responsible party is a government entity. Claims against governmental entities have special rules and regulations. If you miss one of the complicated steps, your claim can be lost. Don’t try to pursue a bus accident claim without a trusted attorney in Austin.

Liability and Bus Accidents

Claims involving bus wrecks are also more complicated because bus companies and drivers are both held to careful safety standards in the state.

The Bus Driver

Bus drivers are professional drivers, and as a result, they are expected to follow more stringent safety rules and regulations. Bus driver negligence can take the following dangerous forms:

Distraction
Excess speed
Impairment
Fatigued driving
Failure to follow the traffic laws, including failure to yield the right-of-way
Aggression
Failure to check blind spots before changing lanes or leaving the roadway

Many bus accidents are the direct result of bus driver negligence. While you will file your claim with the bus company’s insurance provider, the negligent driver can face legal charges and other serious consequences.

Do not wait to discuss your claim with a dedicated bus accident attorney in Austin.

The Bus Company

Bus companies are legally responsible for accidents caused by the bus drivers they employ if the wrecks happen in the course of the drivers performing their job duties (this is generally called respondeat superior). Since driving a bus is part of the job, bus accident claims are typically filed with the bus company’s insurance provider.

However, in addition to being liable for their drivers’ conduct, bus companies can also be liable for their own conduct. For example, bus companies are also responsible for keeping their buses in safe working order. This includes all the following:

Scheduling and ensuring regular maintenance and repairs of the bus fleet
Hiring safe, appropriately licensed, and reliable drivers
Using skilled mechanics who provide high-quality work and use high-quality tools and parts

An inadequately maintained bus can be the direct cause of or contribute to a serious bus accident.

Additionally, bus companies can be held liable for their own negligent hiring, training, or supervision of their drivers. Companies have to ensure they have good hiring practices. If a bus company hires a driver who is not qualified, then the company can be liable for its own negligent hiring decisions. Similarly, once hired, a bus company has an obligation to train its drivers. When companies don’t offer sufficient training, and that results in another wreck, then companies can be sued for that negligence. Finally, once hired, bus companies also have obligations to monitor their drivers to ensure that the drivers are following rules and regulations. Failure to monitor and supervise drivers can be another way that bus companies can be liable for their own conduct.

How Are Your Losses Calculated?

In a bus accident claim, you can seek compensation for your physical, financial, and emotional losses. A key component of every strong bus accident claim is careful calculation of the victim’s covered damages, which break down into the following categories:

Property damage to your car and its contents – if you were not a bus passenger at the time
Both current and ongoing medical costs, which can be extensive
Lost earnings, including your inability to continue advancing your career and achieve your earning potential
Your physical pain, mental anguish and physical impairment, which are almost always the most important losses

Call an Experienced Austin Bus Accident Attorney for the Help You Need

Brooks Schuelke is a dedicated Austin bus accident lawyer at Schuelke Law who takes great pride in his impressive track record for skillfully guiding the claims he takes on toward favorable resolutions that honor our clients’ legal rights and support their futures. We are on your side and here to help, so please do not wait to reach out to contact us online or call our firm today.