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
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
