Aurora Bus Accident Lawyer

If you are involved in a bus crash, you may face challenges and severe injury due to the sheer size of the vehicle. Buses may hit other vehicles, pedestrians, and bikers. During an accident, injuries can occur, of course, to the passengers onboard.

Buses are common carriers, which refers to a company that offers paid public transportation services. Common carriers are responsible for the safety of their passengers, and they have a responsibility to the public. If you were injured in a bus collision, you may have available remedies that the hardworking personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. can help with. Contact an Aurora bus accident lawyer to find out more.

Bus Companies as Public Entities

Pace Suburban runs many of the public buses in Aurora. Pace’s governing body is a board with 13 directors who have connections to the counties, cities, and villages in its service region. They have public meetings where cities and counties can influence their behavior. However, Pace is not just a common carrier — it is a semi-governmental entity.

Other public buses serve the area, including those used for local school districts. Like the buses servicing the public, school buses are owned and operated by public governmental entities.

It is vital to realize that when a governmental entity is involved, it can impact the reporting and claim aspects of a personal injury. People may have to follow specific steps to get a recovery for their injuries, with a shorter filing period. These factors may vary from one bus company to another, further complicating things.

The best way to find out information about filing requirements is to contact legal representation. A bus accident attorney in Aurora could take the facts of a case and provide case-specific details.

Causes of Bus Accidents

Bus wrecks have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries. Common injuries from these wrecks include:

Broken Bones
Tissue Damage
Crush Injuries
Nerve Damage
Organ Damage
Disfigurement
Spinal cord injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Paralysis
Fatality

Sometimes, the bus driver is at fault in a bus wreck — other times, other drivers are the cause. A person may worry that if another driver caused the wreck, their insurance will be responsible for the damage. In a severe bus wreck, it is unlikely that an individual’s liability insurance policy would be enough to cover all of those damages.

However, because buses are common carriers, they owe a duty of safety to their passengers. Passengers can recover compensation from the bus companies for their injuries and they may also have claims against third parties, such as other involved drivers.

To determine the potential for third-party claims, it is essential to look at the cause of the wreck. Bus drivers are subject to the same potential problems as other drivers.

Distractions

While distracted driving often refers to people using their cell phones, passengers can also be very distracting. This is a particular issue on buses where drivers must drive safely even when passengers are unruly or even dangerous.

Exhaustion

Bus drivers have long, demanding days and must keep to strict schedules. Even if the schedule builds in breaks, any delays can impact the driver’s ability to take those breaks. As a result, drivers may be exhausted, which can reduce reaction times and contribute to crashes.

Improper Maintenance

Sometimes, the driver is not the party held liable for the accident. Improper maintenance or insufficient training can lead to an increased risk of collisions. In those instances, the individual driver may be blameless or share blame with others in their organization. A lawyer familiar with Aurora bus accidents could explore the causes of the incident.

Team Up with an Attorney in Aurora to Get Legal Help for Your Bus Accident

Bus companies are often well-represented by counsel. They may offer settlement offers quickly, which can make you feel pressured to accept them. These offers often seem generous, but the severity of the injuries may lead to more significant lifelong expenses than people realize.