Covington Bus Accident Lawyer

Bus drivers receive a lot of training to drive their vehicles. The heavier the vehicle, the harder it hits in a collision and the greater potential for damage. Yet accidents do happen, whether it’s a school bus, a city bus, or even a charter bus.

If the bus driver was at fault, you may be eligible for damages from them or through their employer. The personal injury lawyers in Covington at John Foy & Associates are ready to help you with your claim. Let us handle the negotiations while you work on recovery.

Why Bus Accidents Happen

Despite all the safety measures with buses, bus accidents still happen and they happen for many of the same reasons as other car accidents. All the usual hazards of driving are there, from other drivers being careless to drunk bus drivers. But there are a few other accidents unique to buses.

Some involve passengers. A person getting on or off a bus can get injured and have a case against the bus company. A driver taking evasive action to avoid a crash could cause a passenger to jerk around and cause an injury. Loose bags and other luggage could fly about in the cabin in a rollover crash.

Buses are also constantly in use, so their maintenance levels are much higher than passenger vehicles. A neglectful company can put off needed maintenance until there is a breakdown. That could also lead to a crash.

Many Possible Parties to Sue

There are many possible parties that could have liability in your bus accident injury. Part of the job of your bus accident lawyer in Covington is to figure out which ones are the most responsible. Naturally, the driver and the bus company are the most likely suspects, but there could be others.

Another common one is a third-party driver. If someone rams the bus, they’re the one at fault. Some less common ones are school districts and government entities, like MARTA, as well as manufacturing and maintenance companies.

We also can’t discount the fact that sometimes, passengers attack other passengers. An angry passenger could also distract the driver and cause an accident. As long as the at-fault party has insurance, it’s possible for you to seek compensation.

Further Complications in School Bus Accidents

Bus crashes also have additional complications, which is why you need an experienced bus accident lawyer for these cases. Besides the liability question, we also have to look at other factors.

Take, for example, a school bus crash. School buses often lack restraint systems and other safety systems, relying on height and weight to avoid injury to passengers. Yet suing a school district is much harder than you think.

You’ll have mere weeks to start your case before you run into the statute of limitations, unlike the years you have in most personal injury cases. If it takes time for your child’s injuries to fully appear, this can make it hard for you to mount a case. As soon as your child is in a bus accident, call a lawyer for advice. 

Things to Do After a Bus Crash

Many of the steps to do after a bus crash are the same for car crashes. These steps help lower your liability and improve your chances of fair compensation. Your first step is to see if anyone needs emergency help and call 911 if so.

Next, take photos of your injuries, damage to the bus or your vehicle, and the accident scene. It won’t be long before the accident is cleared off the road, so your photos will preserve the scene. This will help us and insurance adjusters know what really happened.

You should also talk to the other passengers and witnesses. Ask them about their experiences and get their names and contact information. They may be able to testify about what happened. You’ll also need to stay at the scene until you can give the police a report, which you should obtain after it’s finished.

Speaking With a Bus Accident Lawyer

After you’ve done this and you’ve seen a doctor for your own injuries, it’s time to speak with a bus accident lawyer. Your chances for higher compensation are much greater when you work with one, and they protect you from insurance company tactics.

The insurance company, or government agency you’re suing, will want to pay as little as possible, and there are many tricks they can use to do that. By working with a lawyer, you’ll have someone on your side who knows the games, can call them out, and can threaten them with court.

Once you’ve hired a Covington bus accident attorney, you can focus on recovery and they can focus on your case. Our team does not charge an up-front fee for working with you or charge out-of-pocket costs. We get paid when you get paid.

Speak With our Covington Bus Accident Lawyers

If you’ve been in a bus accident, time is of the essence. You may have much less time than you think to file a lawsuit. As soon as you’ve seen a doctor and confirmed your injury, call John Foy & Associates to speak with our Covington bus accident lawyers. You can also contact us online by filling out our free case evaluation form. A member of our team will reach out to you.