Horn Lake Bus Accident Lawyer

Many bus rides lead to devastating accidents that cause catastrophic injuries to their passengers, other drivers, and any pedestrians that were in the bus’s path. If you fall into any of these categories, a Horn Lake personal injury lawyer at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC can help you get compensation for your losses.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents

There are a variety of factors that could lead to a bus accident. Quite often, accidents result from a bus driver making a critical mistake. Other accidents are caused by the negligence of the company or organization that operates the bus.

Some additional causes of bus crashes include defective bus components, bad weather, or a combination of all of the aforementioned factors.

Errors Made by the Bus Driver

You must have a specialized license and significant driver training to work as a bus driver. How much training is required typically depends on the type and size of the bus you will be operating. Yet, even with this training and certification process in place, accidents can still occur due to mistakes made by the driver.

Other factors, such as distractions, fatigue, or drug and alcohol use, may impact a driver’s ability to avoid bus accidents too. Therefore, bus accident victims who noticed that the bus driver was not focused or potentially under the influence should share this information with a bus accident lawyer in Horn Lake immediately.

The Negligence of a Bus Company

Bus companies are subject to regulations that require them to perform frequent inspections and performance reviews to ensure that their vehicles are in proper operational condition. When these safety checks are not performed routinely, the bus may fail, causing an accident. Because it is the bus company’s responsibility to make sure that their vehicles are maintained appropriately, liability for a bus accident could fall onto them, rather than the driver.

Finding out if the bus company was liable requires a lot of hard-to-get evidence. To maximize your chances of successfully claiming compensation from them, get support from a skilled bus accident attorney in Horn Lake.

How to File a Bus Accident Claim

After a bus accident occurs, there are several methods you can use to recover the compensation you need to cover your losses. The option that many people take is simply speaking to the at-fault driver and finding out whether they have insurance that covers the accident. The insurance company will inform you of what they are willing to offer in a settlement but beware. Settlements that are offered initially are normally a far cry from what victims actually deserve.

Your second option is to have a Horn Lake bus accident attorney guide you through the process of filing your claim. With a lawyer on your side, you have someone who can collect evidence on your behalf and negotiate with the insurance companies. When they determine who was actually at fault, they can ensure that you recover compensation from the individual or entity as soon as possible.

In some instances, it may be necessary to take your claim to court. When this happens, trust that you are not on your own. If you hire a Horn Lake bus accident lawyer, you have someone who understands the court process fighting on your side. This can be essential, as few people have the legal experience necessary to win a court battle against a bus company.

Compensation for Bus Accident Victims

If you were hurt in a bus accident, you are potentially entitled to compensation. There are two types of compensation you can recover, including:

Economic Damages

Your economic damages include monetary losses that can be considered tangible. These are usually things that you would have receipts for. Examples include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Missed business opportunities

Non-Economic Damages

Your non-economic damages are losses that would be considered intangible. While there may not be receipts for these losses, they are still considered real by the courts. Examples of non-economic losses include:

• Emotional trauma
• Inability to maintain relationships
• Pain caused by the accident
• Suffering associated with the accident
• Lost enjoyment of life caused by the accident

U.S. Bus Accidents

Every year, there are approximately 67,000 bus accidents. Many of these accidents only cause property damage, but sometimes the bus’s passengers and other roadway users are seriously injured. In many instances, these harmful accidents cause fatal injuries.

Luckily, the number of fatal bus accidents occurring more recently are less than the numbers occurring a decade ago. This is because there is a range of advanced safety features and regulations that have been put in place to decrease the odds that someone would be injured fatally in a bus accident. In fact, the number of fatal bus accidents in 2019 hit a record low, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

If you were injured in a bus accident, you may be confused as to why you were not protected by these safety regulations and the devices that were in place to keep you safe. Of course, sometimes accidents are unavoidable. Yet, in many instances, they could actually have been avoided. Regardless of whether the accident was avoidable or not, you should not be the one liable for damages you suffered due to an accident that you did not cause.

Esteemed Horn Lake Bus Accident Lawyers

Who you choose to represent you in your bus accident claim matters. With the proper lawyer on your side, you stand to recover more compensation than if you took matters into your own hands. If you are in search of an experienced lawyer to take on your case, look no further.

Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC has an esteemed team of personal injury lawyers ready to consult with you. To have your case evaluated today, use the contact form on this page.