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Many people in the Hazel Crest area use buses on a daily basis to get to work, school, or for exercise. Unfortunately, buses are sometimes involved in accidents; and because of their large size, bus accidents can cause devastating personal injuries. If you sustained injuries in a bus accident, you might be entitled to recover compensation from a private bus company, a public governmental body, or a bus manufacturer. A Hazel Crest bus accident lawyer could see if filing a personal injury lawsuit is the best decision for you and your family.
Bus accidents that result in serious injuries most frequently occur:
Skilled attorneys specializing in bus accident litigation have experience with cases involving all types of accidents. No matter the cause of the accident, a diligent lawyer could work hard to obtain the best possible outcome for the injured client.
Often, in bus accident cases, more than one party could be held liable for damages. This can include the bus driver and their employer, mechanics, manufacturers, or city and state entities.
As with all other types of motor vehicle accidents, the driver’s negligence or recklessness is often responsible for causing an accident. Accidents can occur when a bus driver is speeding, distracted, drunk, or fatigued. Since the driver’s employer is responsible for both hiring and training skilled drivers, a claimant could also pursue a case against that private or public bus company for the driver’s negligence. An experienced attorney could review the bus company’s employment records and the driver’s driving records to see if the company was aware, or should have been aware, of any problems with the driver’s past record. They could also review the driver’s log to see if they worked longer than the recommended hours.
Occasionally, accidents occur because of a defect in a bus. A court could hold the original manufacturer of a bus responsible if a vehicle part was inherently defective. In addition, bus companies are responsible for ensuring that their buses are in proper working order at all times. If an attorney could establish that the bus company failed to properly service and maintain the bus and replace or repair worn out parts, a claimant could pursue a case for negligence against the bus company and the mechanic who was in charge of servicing it.
Sometimes bus accidents occur due to dangerous roadways. A claimant could pursue a claim against the responsible municipal authority if they can prove that the municipal authority failed to adequately take care of the roads. For example, they may have failed to remove accumulated snow from a road after a big storm within a reasonable timeframe.
An experienced legal representative could carefully examine the evidence to see if there is more than one source of financial recovery.
Those who have been injured in accident due to another’s reckless actions must abide by the state’s statute of limitations. The statute of limitations refers to the deadline to file a claim in court. Generally, claimants only have two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury claim or settle their claim, as set forth in Illinois Statutes Chapter 735. Civil Procedure Section 202. If the suit is against a public bus company or against a town or city itself, then the deadline may come much sooner, so it is essential to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Bus accidents can result in devastating and costly injuries. A settlement from the people responsible for the crash could give you the money necessary to pay for your recovery. Reach out to a compassionate Hazel Crest bus accident lawyer who could work hard to get you the compensation that you deserve.