Greenwood, IN Bus Accident Lawyer

Riding the bus should be a safe experience for passengers and other drivers on the road. Unfortunately, this is not always so. If you were injured in a bus crash, call our legal team for help now.

Bus accidents are often far more serious than typical vehicle collisions, but they tend to involve many similar causational factors. Many bus accidents come from inattentive drivers, inexperienced bus drivers, and many common traffic code violations. Bus accidents tend to be more complex when deciding whom to sue. While you can sue the negligent bus driver who caused the crash, you might also sue the bus company that hired them or the government agency that oversees public transportation. Your damages might be substantial and should reflect your financial losses and emotional or psychological injuries. Our team can work to gather evidence from witnesses, security cameras, bus company records, and anything else that might be important.

To get an assessment of your claims for no cost, call our bus accident attorneys at Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166.

Possible Causes of Bus Accidents in Greenwood, IN

Perhaps one of the leading causes of collisions is inattentive driving. Inattentive driving often involves communication devices like cell phones. Texting and driving have become so commonplace that many states have enacted laws against it. Distractions might instead come from passengers on the bus or drivers simply being too tired to focus.

Another major problem with the bus industry is inexperienced drivers. Buses are different than ordinary cars, and bus drivers need special training and licensing to be able to drive. Unfortunately, many bus companies are eager to get drivers on the road, even if it means putting poorly trained or inexperienced drivers behind the wheel.

Traffic code violations are arguably some of the most common reasons for bus accidents. Speeding, failing to signal, ignoring signs, or making turns where they are prohibited are just a few common violations that can lead to major accidents. A police investigation of the bus accident might help us determine if such a violation occurred in your case.

Responsible Parties in Greenwood, IN Bus Accident Cases

Bus accidents tend to involve multiple drivers, and more than one person or party might be responsible. Bus drivers, their employers, other drivers, and other parties might be to blame for the crash. Determining which parties should be named in your case can be somewhat complicated, and our bus accident attorneys can determine who is responsible before filing anything.

Bus Drivers

Bus drivers are often directly responsible for accidents and tend to be named as the primary defendants in lawsuits for such accidents. Many of the abovementioned causational factors are directly tied to bus driver negligence. If the bus driver was texting, talking to a passenger, or simply not looking at the road, they may be directly responsible for the accident and should be held accountable. Traffic code violations like speeding or failing to signal a turn also fall squarely upon the shoulders of the bus driver.

As discussed below, there is a big difference between suing a bus driver who works for a private company and a bus driver who works for a public transportation system. The latter is often considered a government employee, and there may be restrictions when you file a lawsuit. Talk to an attorney as soon as possible after your accident to determine which category your bus driver falls under.

Bus Companies

Many injured plaintiffs might not realize that if they sue the driver of the bus who caused their bus accident, they can also sue the driver’s employer. The legal doctrine of respondeat superior might help us hold the bus or transportation company vicariously liable for the accident and your damages.

Under this theory, an employer may be held responsible for the injuries and damages caused by a negligent employee if that employee acted in furtherance of their ordinary job duties. In bus accidents, this may encompass negligence involving traffic violations, distractions, or just poor decisions made by drivers. Illegal behavior (e.g., road rage, alcohol, intentionally causing the crash) is usually not covered by this legal theory.

When suing a private bus company and their driver, we must submit the case before the statute of limitations expires. According to I.C. § 34-11-2-4, personal injury claims, including those for bus accidents, must be filed no later than two years after the injuries occur. This timeline might be much shorter if the bus company is not private but a public entity, like public transportation.

Governmental Agencies or Entities

If the bus in your accident was part of a public transportation network or system, the responsible parties might include a governmental agency or entity. Suing the government is not simple, and you must follow certain rules and restrictions set out in the Tort Claims Act.

First, we must submit proper notice of your claims to the appropriate government agency or organization. Notice requirements under I.C. § 34-13-3-6 include submitting written notice of your legal claim to the attorney general or the government agency directly involved in the accident. The notice must be submitted no later than 270 days after the accident. This is a very tight deadline, and you risk losing your ability to sue if we miss it.

How Our Team Can Help You Find Evidence for Your Bus Accident Claims in Greenwood, IN

To win your case and get the fair compensation you rightly deserve, our team can help you find evidence of the crash and the defendant’s negligence. First, we can start with the bus driver and the bus company. Professional bus companies and public transit agencies usually keep thorough records related to drivers and bus maintenance. These records might shed light on the condition of the bus when the accident happened. We might also discover how long the driver has been working for the bus company and what kind of training they received, if any.

Security cameras are everywhere nowadays. If your bus accident happened on a busy street or highway, security or traffic cameras might be nearby with footage of the crash.

Bus accidents tend to involve a lot of people. Passengers on the bus, drivers in other cars, and pedestrians on the street might have all seen the crash. We can work to track down as many of these people as possible and have them testify as witnesses.

Call Our Greenwood, IN Bus Accident Lawyers for Help Getting Fair Compensation

To get a review of your claims for no cost, call our bus accident attorneys at Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166.