Buses may not be amongst the quickest vehicles on Louisiana’s roads, but they are heavy and can cause significant damage if they are involved in an accident—especially at high speeds. You may also be seriously injured if you were a passenger on a bus that was involved in an accident.
If you or a loved one sustained an injury or was killed in an accident involving a bus, we can help. Call our team at the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation.
Buses Present a Unique Set of Dangers
It does not matter whether the bus that was involved in your accident was privately or publicly owned—if you sustained a serious injury, you could be entitled to compensation. Different bus types have unique specifications, but they all are heavier than the average passenger vehicle and can cause injury or death to passengers and other motorists if they are involved in an accident.
Some features of buses that may increase the risk of injury or death in an accident include:
- A lack of seatbelts, airbags, and other safety features that are typically present in passenger vehicles.
- Buses typically weigh tens of thousands of pounds, and this mass can cause serious property damage when involved with smaller passenger vehicles, which weighed around 4,000 pounds on average in 2003, according to The New York Times.
- The design, size, and weight of buses make them more difficult to maneuver, and they may not be able to avoid accidents that other vehicle types could.
- Their weight and the laws of physics mean that buses cannot stop quickly when traveling at high rates of speed.
Factors of this kind either increase the risk of a bus being in an accident, heighten the risk of injury or death when a bus is involved in an accident, or both. For these reasons, bus drivers have a responsibility to operate their vehicles with care, but we know that this is not always what occurs.
For a free legal consultation with a bus lawyer serving Lafayette, call (337) 777-7777
Negligence May Have Contributed to Your Injuries
In 2019, large trucks and buses accounted for more than 15 percent of fatal crashes on Louisiana’s roadways, according to data compiled by Louisiana State University, affirming that while they may be professionals, bus drivers are not immune to being involved in accidents.
Like all drivers, those who drive buses are susceptible to engaging in dangerous driving behaviors, one of which is distracted driving. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, “in 2017 alone, 3,166 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.” Bus drivers who allow themselves to be distracted while driving can put people at risk, not just themselves.
Some forms of distracted driving, one or more of which could have been a factor in your accident, include:
- Averting your eyes from of the road to engage with other motorists
- Making a phone call while driving
- Engaging in any phone-related activity, such as posting on social media or taking eyes off the road to view a navigation app, while driving
- Fooling with the car’s entertainment system while driving
- Taking attention from the road to tend to children, pets, or other occupants in a vehicle
It is ultimately up to the driver of a bus to understand the danger of distracted driving and other forms of dangerous driving, and to avoid these behaviors.
Whether you were riding in a bus that was involved in an accident, or were a motorist, passenger, or pedestrian struck by the driver of a bus, you could collect compensation covering your injuries or your loved one’s death. Call our team at the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 to discuss your case further with a Lafayette bus lawyer.
Lafayette Bus Lawyer Near Me (337) 777-7777
A Lawyer Can Assist Your Legal Case
If you were involved in an accident recently, allow a lawyer to handle your legal case while you recover from your injuries. You should do the same if you are mourning the death of a loved one caused by a bus accident.
Some of the duties that a lawyer could fulfill include:
- Initiating your case promptly so that your case falls within relevant statutes of limitations
- Collecting evidence of the accident or circumstances that led to the accident, such as video, photographs, eyewitness accounts, and police reports
- Completing all legal responsibilities necessary to bring your case to a resolution, whether through a judgement or settlement
- Protecting your rights throughout the legal process
One of your lawyer’s responsibilities will be to prove that the defendant(s) in your case acted negligently, and in doing so are responsible for compensating you for your losses.
It is important that you not wait to call a lawyer. The statute of limitations in Louisiana for both personal injury and wrongful death claims is generally one year from the date on which the accident occurred, under Art. 3492 of the Louisiana Civil Code. Calling a lawyer straightaway may ensure that your case is filed before this statute expires.
There are exceptions to these statutes, so you should call a lawyer regardless of how much time has passed since your accident.
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Possible Compensation Resulting From a Bus Accident
Every bus-related accident is unique, and there are no guarantees of the sort of damages that you may be eligible to collect. With this said, some possible forms of coverage include:
- Medical expenses caused by the accident
- Lost wages or diminished earning capacity because of your injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
If you file a wrongful death claim, you may be entitled to additional awards, including coverage for:
- Lost income of the deceased
- The loss of spousal companionship
- The loss of guidance for children of the deceased
- Funeral costs
We may be able to pursue other forms of damages.
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Call Our Team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today
We want to protect you from incurring further financial damage because of an accident that you did not cause. Call our team at the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation with a Lafayette bus lawyer.
Call or text (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
