Why Bus Crashes in Baton Rouge Are Different from Other Vehicle Crashes

Bus Crashes Are Prevalent in Many Cities: Baton Rouge is No Exception

If you are involved in an accident with a bus, similar to a semi-truck, due to its sheer size and weight, the results can be devastating. Even a minor fender bender resulting in insignificant issues with a standard car can be exponentially worse when a large bus is involved.

Similarly, with the possibility of carrying multiple passengers, crashes involving buses typically translate to many injuries. With more people involved, the challenges and complexities of a car crash case can quickly multiply.

An experienced attorney, however, can handle the complexities of bus crashes and help ensure you are not left with settling for far less than you deserve.

Read on to learn more.

Common Reasons for Bus Crashes

Similar to standard car crashes, there are several reasons a crash or collision may happen, with a few specific differences relating directly to buses or carrying passengers.

Speeding is never safe and is a leading cause of crashes nationwide. Unfortunately, many people resort to it, and crashes often occur as a result.

Driving while intoxicated doesn’t only affect standard vehicles. Drivers of buses may also be intoxicated, slowing down their reaction time or otherwise creating a hazardous environment for their passengers and others on the roadways.

Distracted driving affects bus drivers if they aren’t dedicated to remaining safe while operating the bus. If they are checking their phone, not paying attention to the road, or otherwise distracted, multiple lives may be at risk. It’s important to remember that a bus driver may be susceptible to far more distractions than the average driver. There are typically many people on the bus, which can create a loud and chaotic environment if they can’t block out the noise and focus on the job at hand.

Driving while fatigued is often a cause of bus crashes as well. Some drivers are required to follow a demanding schedule, leaving little time for breaks, adequate rest, or nutrition.

Mechanical or weather issues can also lead to crashes. If regular maintenance isn’t done on tires or brakes, for example, these can falter, making the bus unsafe to operate.

Weather issues affect us all when we drive. If current weather conditions produce slippery roads, buses can be susceptible to sliding into other vehicles, being unable to stop when necessary, and more.

Who is Liable After a Bus Crash?

Another essential aspect to consider following a bus crash is the number of liable parties, which may be far more than in a standard vehicle crash.

The operator or driver of the vehicle may be at fault, but their employer may be as well. For example, suppose the employer wasn’t providing adequate safety training or was pushing the driver to meet unrealistic deadlines. In that case, this may cause the driver to be fatigued, speed, or otherwise practice unsafe driving.

The city or county may be responsible for a crash if it can be traced back to poorly maintained roads. If there is an obvious issue that the city or county is aware of and has yet to fix, they may be held accountable for their negligence.

The bus manufacturer may be found liable following a crash as well. If faulty tires, brakes, windshield wipers, turn signals, or other items were installed, this may have led to the crash.

In some cases, there will be several layers of liability that your experienced personal injury attorney can help you uncover.

What Types of Compensation is Available to Me Following a Bus Crash?

If you or a loved one were involved in a bus crash, you may be surprised to learn of the various types of compensation that you can pursue.

Special damages are those that are more common and typically tangible. They can include medical bills, bills to restore property damage such as car repair, and more. This category also includes lost wages while you were recovering from the crash and tending to your injuries.

It’s important to note that your experienced attorney can also help you accurately forecast future medical expenses and lost wages so that you can pursue this amount as well. If you were injured due to the bus crash, you should be adequately compensated for what you have spent and what you are likely to spend in the future to heal or manage your injuries.

General damages consist of mostly intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, anxiety and depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and more. While these losses don’t typically come with an assigned monetary value, your personal injury attorney can also ensure that you have adequate evidence and calculations to pursue this category.

What Are Punitive Damages?

Punitive damages are the third and least common category of damages. Punitive damages aren’t relative to every case, as they are reserved for those that are especially negligent or intentionally harmful to victims. For example, if the bus driver or other drivers involved in the crash were intoxicated and chose to drive anyway, that may be a case for punitive damages. The dollar value is typically meant to punish the offender and deter others from doing the same.

Your Local Legal Advocate

With over thirty years of experience helping clients in the Baton Rouge area, our team is prepared and dedicated to helping our local people overcome injustices. Our team is well versed in handling complex cases such as bus crashes, and we aren’t afraid to take our dedication to our clients to the courtroom and fiercely fight for what they deserve.

Contact our office today to schedule your free initial consultation at (225) 263-6194.