Why Hire a Houston Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me to Handle Your Injury Case?
Lawyers who win cases against truck and bus drivers understand the rules. These rules are important for bus companies and their drivers. They help keep passengers and drivers safe. Our Houston bus accident lawyer has over 40 years of experience maximizing compensation for people injured in commercial vehicle crashes.
If you were injured in a bus accident, contact our Houston bus accident lawyers today for a free consultation. Call (281) 893-0760.
Were You Injured in a Bus Accident?
Bus accidents can cause serious injuries that may permanently affect the victim’s life. Buses usually lack seat belts, so you and others in accidents may get seriously hurt. The sooner you hire a skilled commercial vehicle accident attorney, the better for your case! Call bus accident lawyer Greg Baumgartner for help.
Common Bus Accident Injuries
Bus accident injuries can stem from a variety of circumstances. For example, if you suffer injuries as a pedestrian struck by a bus, you may have a closed head injury or broken bones. If you get hurt in a slip-and-fall accident on a bus because of wet or bad floors, you might break bones in your hands or arms, get deep cuts, or break your hip. Bus safety is always an issue after an accident.
If you suffer serious injuries in an accident as a passenger on the bus, on the other hand. You could have injuries like those from a car accident, such as brain injuries, spinal injuries, or broken bones.
Talk to a Texas injury attorney whenever you suffer any injury in a serious bus accident, whether as a passenger on the bus or a pedestrian outside the bus, if the bus driver is at fault for your injury. An attorney can help you better understand your right to compensation and guide you through filing a personal injury claim.
What a Bus Accident Lawyer in Houston Can Do For You
Who Bears Liability for a Houston Bus Accident?
Bus accidents can occur in a variety of scenarios. Who is liable for bus accident accident claims may depend on several factors, including who owns the bus. This may include:
The City
Private bus companies
A school district or school system, in the case of buses used to transport children
The bus driver might be mainly responsible for an accident if their careless actions caused it. The bus owner, whether a company, individual, or government, can be responsible for what the bus driver does. For example:
Improper maintenance on the school bus caused the accident.
Like other commercial vehicles, buses require regular maintenance to keep them moving smoothly. Unfortunately, in some cases, the company that owns the bus may put off maintenance or even forego it entirely to cut costs and keep it running.
In other cases, the bus mechanic, often an outside contractor, may fail to repair the bus, leading to substantial injury.
Employing a driver with a known accident history or a habit of drinking on the job.
Drinking and driving can substantially raise the risk of serious accidents, while a bus driver with a habit of reckless driving may cause severe injuries. If the company continues employing a driver with a record of reckless or distracted driving, it may share liability for the accident.
Holding dangerous policies that lead to or contribute to the accident.
In some cases, the company that owns the bus may have policies that push the driver to break the law or to behave dangerously: insisting that a driver spend too many hours a day behind the wheel, for example, or pushing the driver to complete a too-tight route even in hazardous conditions. If the company’s policies cause an accident, the company may be liable.
Other Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Houston
Beyond the abovementioned scenarios, several other factors frequently contribute to bus accidents in Houston and throughout Texas. These causes include:
Speeding: Operating a bus at speeds higher than the legal limit can drastically reduce the driver’s ability to react quickly to prevent an accident.
Distracted Driving: Whether texting, eating, or talking to passengers, distractions can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Careless or Reckless Driving: Unsafe lane changes, failing to signal, or neglecting to check mirrors and blind spots are common reckless behaviors.
Wide Turns: When a driver moves to the left before making a right turn, it can result in collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians.
Fatigued Driving: Long hours on the road without adequate rest can impair a driver’s reaction time and judgment.
Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol or drug use impairs a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely.
Defective Parts or Design: Faulty bus components or design flaws can lead to mechanical failures, increasing the risk of an accident.
Poor Road Maintenance can cause the driver to lose control of the bus. Potholes, broken pavement, or debris in the road can cause this.
These additional factors highlight the complexity of bus accident causes and underline the importance of thorough investigations to determine liability. By understanding the various elements contributing to these accidents, we can better advocate for safer practices and policies to protect passengers and other road users.
How Common Are Bus Crashes in Texas?
Although bus crashes are less frequent than car accidents, they are not entirely rare. The sheer number of buses and other vehicles on the road increases the overall risk of incidents.
Statistics from Bus Accidents
TX recorded a traffic fatality daily, underscoring the risk all motorists face.
Regarding bus accidents, the complexities far outweigh those of standard car accidents. Here’s why:
Serious and Multiple Injuries
Bus accidents often result in severe injuries. Unlike cars, buses lack seatbelts and airbags, putting passengers at greater risk. These accidents also tend to involve numerous victims, both inside and outside the bus. When multiple individuals are injured, the available financial resources can quickly deplete, leading to insufficient compensation for all involved parties.
Multiple Vehicles Involved
Accidents in busy urban areas often involve a bus and several other vehicles. Determining the exact sequence of events and identifying who is at fault can become a logistical nightmare. The presence of multiple vehicles adds layers of complexity to both the investigation and the claims process.
Various Liable Parties
Buses are operated by a web of entities, including individuals, private companies, and public organizations. Each party can potentially hold some degree of responsibility for the accident. Identifying who is liable can be particularly challenging, especially when multiple entities share fault.
Complex Insurance Coverage
Bus companies often have intricate insurance structures. These may include layered coverages that activate only after other policies are exhausted or specific conditions are met. Navigating through these insurance nuances to determine available funds for compensation can be exceedingly difficult.
Regulatory Complications
Buses are subject to a myriad of state and federal regulations that dictate standards for charter, intercity, public transit, and school buses. Each category has its own set of rules and evidence requirements, making legal reviews far more detailed and time-consuming than those for regular vehicle accidents.
Government-operated Buses
Many cities operate their bus services, adding another layer of complexity. Laws governing claims against local government entities often involve unique procedures, shorter deadlines, and capped compensation amounts. These factors require specialized legal knowledge and swift action, adding urgency to a complicated process.
In summary, the complexities surrounding bus accidents arise from the severity and number of injuries, the involvement of multiple vehicles and liable parties, intricate insurance coverages, an array of regulatory requirements, and special considerations for government-operated services. Each of these elements interlocks, creating a challenging environment for pursuing bus accident claims.
Adjusters Don’t Want You to Hire a Houston Bus Accident Attorney!
An adjuster often tells bus accident victims they are responsible for their situation. They suggest that hiring a bus attorney is not needed. The lawyer will only take a portion of the victim’s money. The insurance company prefers you not to hire an experienced bus accident lawyer for a specific reason. It can be reasonably certain that if an insurance company does not want you to do something, it’s exactly what you should do.
Many people get tricked and accept very low offers, only to realize later that they must hire a skilled lawyer. Waiting too long to hire a lawyer after an accident can harm the victim’s chances of winning their case.
Get A Real Houston Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me
Hiring a bus accident lawyer in Houston is important. It helps victims get justice, especially those harmed by the bus company or driver’s carelessness.
Our bus accident attorneys have handled bus and commercial vehicle accidents for over 40 years. We have an exceptional track record, and we only get paid if we recover money for you.