Midland Bus Accident Lawyer
Bus accidents can result in severe injuries to passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers. Additionally, bus crashes can cause significant property damage due to their size. Because some buses are owned by the government and others by private companies, these accident legal claims may be treated differently than a typical motor vehicle collision. If you have been injured or suffered property damage in a bus accident, you should reach out to a personal injury attorney. A Midland bus accident lawyer could explain your legal rights to financial compensation and help you handle any challenges that may arise.
Laws for Types of Bus Accidents
Buses are used by public transportation systems, schools, and private companies. Unfortunately, accidents occur in all of these situations, but the laws that apply to each may be quite different. A Midland attorney could help someone with the various legal nuances they may encounter when trying to file a lawsuit after a bus accident.
Midland Public Buses
Midland Odessa Urban Transit District serves the Midland Odessa urban area with public transportation services. The laws governing public buses, along with other forms of public transportation, can be found in Texas Revised Statutes Annotated §§ 451-463.
Public bus operators, usually the government, are awarded a great deal of protection under state law. Even if the bus accident was the driver’s fault, it might be difficult for an injured person to file a legal claim.
Legal claims for personal injuries or property damage must be made within two years for all bus accidents, per Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. § 16.003. Passengers looking to file a lawsuit after an accident with a public bus must meet additional notification requirements or lose their chance to take legal action. In certain cities, the passengers must let the municipality know as early as 45 days after the incident of their intent to sue, while others give plaintiffs up to six months.
School Bus Accidents
School bus accidents may occur while in motion, but also while children are entering or exiting the vehicle. While school buses have special equipment and laws require passing vehicles to stop, accidents still happen while children are getting on and off of the bus.
In some situations, school buses may not be properly maintained, resulting in a bus accident. Other times, bus drivers may not have been properly trained or failed to exercise due care while operating the school bus. Other motorists acting recklessly or negligently on the road may also be at fault for a school bus accident.
Who is Responsible for a Private Bus Accident?
Companies that run private bus transportation services must follow “common carrier” laws. Under Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. §§ 5.001-5.008, companies that run private bus lines must follow some additional rules that do not apply to other motorists. Some of these laws include:
- Properly maintaining their buses
- Hiring qualified bus drivers
- Ensuring bus drivers remain alert while operating the bus
- Training drivers to maintain safe distances between the bus and other vehicles
If a private bus operator fails to follow common carrier law and an accident occurs, they may be held financially responsible for resulting damages. A Midland lawyer could help someone file a claim against a private bus company after being involved in an accident.
Consult with a Midland Bus Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a bus accident, you should seek assistance from a skilled attorney. The law may differ depending on whether you were a passenger, pedestrian, or another motorist in the bus accident, and consulting legal counsel may help you understand your rights to financial compensation. A Midland bus accident lawyer could help you initiate a legal claim or negotiate with insurance companies. Call today to begin working on your case.
