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Travel by bus is common in Maryland’s urban areas and, though bus accidents are less common than car accidents, injuries from bus accidents are often more severe because buses are large and carry so many passengers. If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, you may be wondering what to do next. If you are considering a lawsuit, the Maryland bus accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC can help.
Our experienced team of professionals can help guide you through the litigation process. The lawyers at Regan Zambri Long have the experience and the resources to handle your case. With Regan Zambri Long, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands.
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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.
Suing as a bus passenger. 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. 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.
Suing another driver for causing the bus accident. If your accident was caused by a bus accident with another car, 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 directly from them or from their insurance company.
Suing if you were hit by a bus. If you were hit by a bus either as a pedestrian or in another vehicle, you may be able to sue the bus driver who caused the accident. Again, you will have to prove negligence, and you may be able to sue both the bus driver and the bus company for the actions of the driver as an employee.
Most bus accidents are due to driver error, but sometimes accidents result from poor maintenance or defective parts. Sometimes multiple factors lead to a bus accident, but some of the most common issues in bus accidents are:
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:
Maryland is a contributory negligence state, which means that you must show that you had no fault in the accident. Maryland is also an “at-fault state,” which means that the party found negligent must pay for all the damages. This makes it crucial to your claim that you can prove that the bus driver or other at-fault driver caused the accident based on negligent or careless conduct and that you did not contribute to the accident in any way.
Maryland’s strict laws make it all the more important that a bus accident victim has an experienced lawyer to help them navigate the legal process. Consulting with an attorney will increase your likelihood of recovering damages for your injuries. If you are considering suing for your injuries following a bus accident, you can call or message Regan Zambri Long today to schedule a free consultation.
Every personal injury claim is different, and many factors can impact your potential compensation in a bus accident. Some of the most common damages awarded in bus accident cases are:
After a free consultation with a lawyer at Regan Zambri Long, your attorney will be able to evaluate your claim and can give you an approximate amount of damages that you could recover in a lawsuit.
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:
The statute of limitations for a bus accident claim will depend on what type of bus was involved in your accident. In personal injury actions against private bus companies, you have three (3) years to file a lawsuit from the date of the accident. If a private bus accident resulted in a fatality, the family of the victim has three (3) years from the date of the death to file a claim.
If the bus involved was owned by a government entity, such as Maryland Transit Authority or a school bus, you must file a formal written complaint within one (1) year from the date of the accident. The government entity then has six (6) months to respond. If the government entity accepts the claim, it will work with its insurance adjuster to settle your claim. If your claim is denied, you may still file a lawsuit within three (3) years just as you would with a private bus accident.
If you want to know more about the statute of limitations for your claim, you should seek legal advice. An experienced personal injury lawyer can instruct you on the timeline for filing your claim and will assure you that should you choose to file a lawsuit, it is filed in time.
If you are considering filing a legal claim for injuries from a bus accident, one of the many experienced lawyers on our team can help. Our team of lawyers will build your case and gather all the evidence necessary to win your claim, and we are confident that we can reach the settlement you deserve. Our lawyers often operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they are compensated for their services only after you win, and the amount owed is based on the amount you win at trial. Call Regan Zambri Long today or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
