Elgin Bus Accident Lawyer

A bus accident can forever change someone’s life. These large and heavy vehicles can cause enormous property damage and devastating bodily harm. Pedestrians, passengers, and other drivers should be mindful when on or near city buses, private buses, and school buses. Reach out to an Elgin bus accident lawyer if you sustained injuries from a negligent bus driver to determine if they or their employer could be held liable. An experienced personal injury attorney could be your advocate in securing financial relief.

Types of Bus Crash Injuries

Due to their large size, buses can cause serious physical harm any time they are involved in an accident. Depending on the severity of the accident and its proximate cause, there are a wide range of potential injuries commonly seen in bus crashes. Common injuries related to bus crashes include:

• Whiplash
• Broken bones and fractures
• Crush injuries
• Organ damage
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord damage
• Burns
• Loss of life

Many of these injuries can drastically impact a person’s life, both physically and financially. The time off work, medical bills, and lifestyle alterations can pile up quickly. A local bus collision attorney is crucial to getting someone’s life back on track and securing the financial compensation that they deserve.

Determining Negligence in Bus Accident Crashes

In order to prove a successful bus accident claim, and to receive compensation, an injured person must prove that a bus driver was negligent. Negligence occurs when a bus driver fails to follow their duty of care to drive safely and, as a result, causes injury to others. Several parties may be held responsible for negligence in bus accident cases, such as the driver, the bus management company, the vehicle manufacturer, or a government entity.

In order to prove one of these parties was responsible for the accident, an experienced lawyer could perform any or all of the following functions:

• Analyze the unique facts of the case
• Consult experts in accident reconstruction
• Interview witnesses to the event
• Analyze accident reports and law enforcement narratives to determine the sequence of events
• Review any video recordings of the accident

An attorney could compile all of this evidence together to make a compelling case against the at-fault party in order to convince a jury to award damages to the plaintiff.

Understanding Common Carrier Laws

“Common carrier” laws can have a significant impact on a bus accident case. These laws apply to any form of public transportation, including buses, trolleys, and more. They hold common carrier drivers and companies to higher standards for ensuring passenger safety. These unique laws, and their different standards, could be used effectively by an Elgin bus accident attorney who understands them and has applied them in previous lawsuits.

Although common carrier laws set a higher standard of care for these drivers and companies, it is still necessary to prove negligence. By utilizing the techniques that were applied in other cases, and focusing on the strict rules set up for common carriers, an injured person and their legal counsel could fight to hold the defendants accountable.

Types of Financial Compensation in Bus Accident Cases

A successful lawsuit could potentially recover significant financial compensation for a plaintiff. These money damages can help them pay for much-needed expenses or address emotional trauma. Among the damages one could seek are:

• Medical bills
• Future medical costs
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Property damage costs
• Lost income and loss of future earning capacity
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Wrongful death damages

If one of the at-fault parties was deemed intentional or reckless in their actions, punitive damages might be available in order to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from committing similar actions.

Schedule a Consultation with an Elgin Bus Accident Attorney

Injuries following a bus accident can be incredibly difficult to handle, but you do not have to face it alone. The legal system provides a way to acquire restitution so you do not have to worry about bankrupting yourself to pay the expenses. To fight for your right to financial compensation following a collision, contact an Elgin bus accident lawyer today. A legal professional stands ready to fight for you.