Fairfax Bus Accident Lawyers

Did You or Loved One Get Injured in a Bus Accident in Fairfax?

Travel by bus is common in Fairfax, Virginia, and injuries from bus accidents are often more severe than smaller vehicles because buses are large and carry many passengers. You may be wondering if you can sue the bus driver or the bus company. This will depend on the circumstances of the accident. If you’ve suffered an injury, you may be able to recover compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. Bus accident victims often suffer severe injuries and should not have to face the cost of the injury and medical care, in addition to recovering.

If you are asking whether you can sue for your bus accident injuries in Fairfax, Virginia, call the lawyers at Regan Zambri Long today to schedule a free consultation. Our experienced team of professionals can help guide you through the recovery process. With Regan, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands.

Who Could Be Liable for My Bus Accident Injuries in Fairfax?

If you were injured in a bus accident, who you sue will depend on who was at fault for your accident and what type of vehicle you were in. Some of the possible responsible parties for bus accidents in Fairfax are as follows:

Fairfax Connector. If the accident was caused by a Fairfax Connector bus driver, then Fairfax Connector could be liable. If you were injured on a public bus, your right to sue may be limited because suits against the government are limited and damages may be capped. You should talk to a lawyer if you find yourself in this situation.
School districts. If a school bus is responsible for your injuries or a loved one’s injuries, the school district can be liable.
Private companies. If you were injured as a bus passenger because of the negligence of the bus driver, you may be able to sue the bus driver and the bus company. The bus company is responsible for who it hires and can be liable for the negligence of its employees while on the job. A bus company may also be responsible for issues with bus maintenance or equipment that it should have known would interfere with the safety of the bus.
Bus manufacturer. Safety requirements for buses in the United States are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). If a bus manufacturer has improperly manufactured a bus, the manufacturer can be held liable.
Other drivers. If your accident was caused by a bus accident with another vehicle, you may be able to sue the driver of the other vehicle. You must be able to prove that the other driver was negligent. When you sue a private party or individual, you may be entitled to receive damages either directly from them or from their insurance company.

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What Causes Bus Accidents?

A 2021 Virginia Highway Safety Office survey showed that 399 crashes involved buses, and of those 399, 8 were fatal. Most bus accidents are due to driver error, but sometimes accidents result from poor maintenance or defective parts. Some of the most common issues in bus accidents are the following:

Distracted driving. Bus drivers, like other drivers, can become distracted while driving, increasing the likelihood of an accident.
Speeding. Bus drivers may speed to keep up with their bus schedules, which increases the risk for pedestrians and other vehicles.
Fatigue. If a bus driver is not given sufficient time to rest between shifts or is scheduled for a shift that is too long, it causes slower reaction times and difficulty concentrating.
Left-hand turns. Motorists and pedestrians are at a greater risk of being hit by the back of a bus when the bus is long and the driver has a hard time gauging length in turns and maneuvers, especially in left-hand turns.
Poor maintenance. Some bus companies may not thoroughly maintain their buses for financial reasons. Poor maintenance can result in mechanical problems, like worn brakes or defective headlights or taillights, which increase the risk of accidents.
Weather or safety hazards. Poor weather conditions or other safety hazards in the roadway can be especially tricky for bus drivers to navigate.
Top-heavy bus design. Top heavy buses, like double-decker tour buses, are particularly dangerous because they are susceptible to rollovers if the driver is not properly trained to operate a tall, narrow bus around tight curves.
Unqualified drivers. Unqualified drivers may not have the experience necessary to operate a bus and can put passengers and other motorists at risk. It is crucial that bus companies hire qualified drivers. Bus companies may try to cut corners and skip important hiring steps, such as background checks.

What Injuries are Common in a Fairfax Bus Accident?

Because of the size of buses, injuries from bus accidents can be severe. Some of the most common injuries associated with bus accidents are:

Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Concussions are a common bus accident injury and happen when the head is jerked with the impact of the accident. Some head injuries can cause permanent brain damage.

Neck injuries. Whiplash is often a common bus accident injury and occurs when the head and neck are jerked forward and backward with impact. This jerking motion can cause damage to the nerves, tissue, and even the vertebrae and upper spine.

Back and spine injuries. Bus accidents can cause various back and spine injuries, such as slipped discs or other damage to the spinal cord, sometimes causing paralysis and requiring lifetime care.

Broken bones. Bus accidents can cause broken legs, arms, ribs, and other fractures. More serious breaks require surgery and high medical care costs.

Mental distress. There can be serious emotional trauma and distress associated with any accident. Mental distress is often an overlooked injury, but it can be debilitating and cause mood swings, anxiety, and depression.

What Should I Do After a Bus Accident in Fairfax?

To succeed in a bus accident claim, you will need to build a strong case. It is important to document and collect as much information about the bus accident as possible. You should try to take as many of the following steps after the accident as possible:

File a police report. The first thing you should do is file a police report so that there is an accurate record of your accident.

Take pictures. You should try to take pictures of the scene of the accident, the bus and its condition, and your injuries.

Get witness statements. If you can’t get eyewitness statements immediately after the accident, try to get the contact information of witnesses so that you or your lawyer can follow up with them later.

Record your memory of what happened. You should try to write down your recollection of exactly what you remember about the accident while it’s fresh in your mind.

Find traffic camera or dash camera footage. This can show what direction the bus was traveling and what speed it was going, which can be helpful in proving fault.

See a doctor. Try to visit a doctor as soon as you can. A medical professional can check to see if you have any injuries that were not immediately apparent. They will also document your injuries, which will be evidence of your injury in court.

How Do You Prove Negligence?

Bus accident claims are often the result of negligence, or the failure to act with the level of care that a reasonable person would have used. Every accident is different, but negligence claims generally must meet the same four elements:

A duty of care. The at-fault party must have owed the injured party a duty of reasonable care. This means that the at-fault party owed an obligation to avoid harming others. For example, bus drivers have the responsibility to drive safely and follow traffic laws, which means they owe a duty of care to the other motorists and pedestrians using the roadways around them. If the bus driver was trained to drive buses, they are held to a higher standard than an average motorist.

Breach of the duty of care. The injured party must prove that the at-fault party breached that standard of care.

Causation. The injured party must show a direct link between the negligent action and the injury.

Actual damages. The injured party must be able to prove that they suffered actual harm, such as medical bills or lost wages. These damages can also be the mental pain and suffering from the accident.