Many people use buses every day for reliable transportation in and around Alexandria. Just like any other motor vehicle, though, buses can still crash. Sometimes, the bus driver or their employer may be to blame, while at other times another driver may cause the accident.
Either way, having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side can make a huge difference when it comes to seeking compensation for your injuries. An Alexandria bus accident lawyer could investigate the crash on your behalf and help you pursue monetary compensation for all injuries and losses sustained.
Common Carrier Doctrine
Like all other cities and counties in Louisiana, Alexandria is subject to the common carrier doctrine. This doctrine establishes that operators of taxicabs, trains, planes, and buses owe their passengers a duty to exercise reasonable care at all times and that failure to uphold this duty of care may serve as grounds for an Alexandria bus accident attorney to file suit if that failure results in injury.
Part of exercising reasonable care means that operators must not take harmful or unnecessary risks while driving. They should also refrain from actions or maneuvers that could expose their passengers to harm on the roadway.
For a free legal consultation with a bus accident lawyer serving Alexandria, call (318) 777-7777
Assigning Responsibility for Alexandria Bus Accidents
Responsibility for a bus accident in Alexandria may rest with one of several individuals or entities, or with multiple ones at once. Individuals, corporations, municipalities, and other legal entities are all equal before the law when it comes to potential liability.
Bus Drivers
If a bus driver operates their bus carelessly or while distracted, fatigued, or intoxicated, the accident victim may be able to file a claim or lawsuit. This is one of the more common sources of liability in bus accidents, so most experienced Alexandria bus accident lawyers should be intimately familiar with how to approach such cases.
Other Drivers
In some cases, although a bus driver is operating their bus reasonably and appropriately, another driver causes an accident by driving carelessly, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, tailgating, or failing to use a turn signal. In those cases, the accident victim may be able to file a claim or lawsuit against the offending motor vehicle driver.
Bus Companies
Bus companies and other transportation companies owe a duty of care to their passengers. This duty requires that they hire safe and properly trained drivers to operate their buses. If the at-fault bus driver has a history of traffic tickets or safety violations, the accident victim may be able to sue the bus company for negligence in hiring and/or training practices.
Bus Manufacturers and Repair Facilities
Sometimes, bus accidents occur when bus parts are manufactured improperly, usually bus tires and brake mechanisms. In defective parts cases, the accident victim may be able to file a claim against the offending manufacturer.
In the same vein, bus repair facilities also owe a duty to ensure that their employees make repairs in a competent and workmanlike manner. If a shoddy repair job leads to a bus accident, an accident victim may be able to take legal action against the bus repair facility.
Cities, Counties, and Other Municipalities
Municipalities, including the City of Alexandria, are responsible for making sure that all roadways are in good repair, clear of debris, and always have traffic signs and signals in good working order. If a bus accident can be traced to a municipality’s negligence, the accident victim may be able to sue the municipality directly.
Alexandria Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me (318) 777-7777
Rapides Parish Bus Accident Lawyer
Bus Driver Negligence
In some instances, bus accidents occur because the driver acted in an irresponsible manner. In these cases, victims may have grounds for a personal injury claim against the bus driver or their employer (under a vicarious liability theory). Bus driver negligence can take any of the following forms:
- Poor or improper training
- Reckless driving (i.e. violating the rules of the road)
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
A bus accident attorney in Rapides Parish could help victims assert a personal injury claim against a negligent bus driver and pursue fair compensation.
Other Common Causes of Bus Accidents
Bus driver negligence is not the only cause of bus accidents in Rapides Parish. Crashes can also occur when the bus is not properly equipped with seat belts or other safety restraints. If a defective part leads to an accident, an injured passenger may be able assert a manufacturing or a design defect claim against the parts manufacturer.
The accident victim could also have a claim against the bus company, school district, municipality, or another owner of the bus for failing to hire capable drivers or improperly supervising them.
If a mechanic fails to make proper repairs to the bus, proximately leading to an accident, the injured passenger might have a legal claim against the repair facility. Finally, if another driver causes or contributes to the accident, then the injured bus passenger could file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against that driver.
A Rapides Parish bus accident attorney could identify the responsible parties and determine a victim’s eligibility to pursue a claims against bus companies, repair facilities, or other entities.
Compensation for Injuries
Rapides Parish bus accidents are unique in that they have the potential to injure large numbers of individuals simultaneously. Common injuries in these accidents include whiplash, scrapes and cuts, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and strains.
Victims of bus accidents could pursue compensation against the at-fault person or persons for medical expenses, lost earnings, mental distress, inconvenience, loss of use of a body part, or loss of family or spousal companionship. The exact amount of damages varies from case to case, but an experienced Rapides Parish public transportation accident attorney could help victims calculate a fair value for their losses.
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How an Alexandria Bus Accident Attorney Could Help
Bus accidents in Alexandria can result in a variety of serious injuries and damages—all of which deserve monetary compensation if the accident is someone else’s fault. Those potential damages include compensation for past and future medical bills, lost wages, inconvenience, pain, and suffering. For more information about potential damages in your case, you should contact an Alexandria bus accident lawyer today.
Call or text (318) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
