A New Orleans Bus Accident Attorney Will Help You Get the Compensation You Deserve
Every day on the road, drivers encounter school buses, public transportation vehicles and private tour and charter buses. Much larger than passenger cars, buses create an additional risk of serious injury if a collision occurs. Bus accidents endanger not only pedestrians, motorcyclists and other motorists on the road, but also the many passengers aboard, including children, the elderly and commuters.
When you are injured in an accident involving any type of bus, it is important to understand your legal rights. Bloom Legal represents bus passengers and other motorists involved in a collision with a bus. We take on the tough cases and will fight aggressively to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call today to speak with a member of our legal team and learn how a New Orlenas bus accident attorney can help you: (504) 599-9997.
Your Rights After a Bus Accident in Louisiana
Any time you are involved in a bus accident as a passenger or as another driver on the road, it is important to determine who is at fault for the collision. If the bus driver was negligent or careless leading up to the accident, victims can pursue a claim for compensation against the driver. You can pursue your claim in court or agree to an out-of-court settlement if the driver or insurer accepts fault and makes a reasonable settlement offer. (Remember, that it’s best to consult with a New Orleans bus accident attorney when determining if the settlement is fair and reasonable!)
In addition to a claim against the driver, you may want to pursue a claim against the driver’s employer. Bus drivers are usually employed by another entity, such as a school district or a motor carrier company. The employer typically has more insurance and deeper pockets and, in many cases, may be held responsible for the accident. A bus driver’s employer may be legally liable based on the company’s own negligence, such as inadequate hiring policies or a failure to enforce Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules applicable to bus drivers. Employers of bus drivers can also be held responsible for the negligent actions of their employees and required to compensate victims harmed by a careless bus operator.
Bus accident cases can be particularly complicated if a government agency is involved. For example, if you were injured by a school bus or public transportation, your claim is against the government. Government agencies enjoy limited protections from lawsuits under sovereign immunity rules so you should understand the special requirements involved with suing the government.
School Bus Accidents
School buses are some of the safest vehicles on the road. Children taking a bus to school are significantly less likely to be involved in an accident than in other vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Yes, accidents can and do happen. When they occur, a New Orleans bus accident attorney can help. School bus accidents can cause serious injuries, both to the children aboard the bus, other drivers and passengers on the road, bicyclists and nearby pedestrians.
Common injuries in school bus accidents include:
- Scrapes and cuts
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Catastrophic injuries
Even seemingly minor injuries can have lasting consequences or worsen over time, which is why it is important to seek medical attention following an accident. It is also vital to get advice from an experienced New Orleans bus accident attorney, who can help you understand your rights and options.
Public Bus Accidents
Whether the bus is owned and operated by a private company or a state or local government entity has a significant impact on your ability to obtain compensation for your injuries.
State and local governments generally enjoy wide immunity from a variety of lawsuits, including those related to personal injury claims. The law under which a person is suing must expressly authorize actions against government entities for their role in allegedly causing an injury. Even when you can sue a government entity, there are typically very tight deadlines that you must meet or risk having the lawsuit dismissed and limits on how much compensation you can recover.
A New Orleans bus accident attorney at Bloom Legal can help you explore your rights in crashes involving public bus operators and ensure. The sooner you seek legal advice, the better chance you have of making any deadlines for taking action.
Private Bus Accidents
Crashes involving private bus companies give injured people more leeway to hold those responsible legally liable, which includes the bus driver and his or her employer.
The compensation typically available in these cases is meant to make an injured person financially whole, or return the person to the financial position that he or she was in before the crash. Those responsible for a crash are often liable for current and future medical bills, as well as the injured person’s missed wages during recuperation and any reduction in overall earning capacity caused by the injuries.
To get this kind of compensation, you have to be able to prove that the driver or another party, like a defective vehicle manufacturer or parts maker, was legally responsible for the crash. You also have to be able to detail the extent of the injuries caused in the accident.
Louisiana is a comparative negligence state, which means a person who is partly to blame for his or her own injuries can still get some compensation based on their proportion of fault. A seasoned New Orleans bus accident attorney at Bloom Legal can help you determine fault and build a claim for money damages.
Contact an Experienced New Orleans Bus Accident Attorney Today
At Bloom Legal, we have represented many clients injured in bus accidents. We know the ins-and-outs of these complex cases and can help you determine who to pursue a claim against and how best to recover compensation for your losses. We take care of protecting your legal rights and moving your case forward so you can focus on recovery.
Call or contact a New Orleans bus accident lawyer at Bloom Legal today. Call (504) 599-9997 to schedule an evaluation of your case if you or a loved one was hurt in a bus crash. Our personal injury attorneys do not charge legal fees unless we can recover compensation for your injuries and losses, so call now – you have nothing to lose. We serve clients throughout New Orleans, including Jefferson Parish.
Hear What Our Clients Have To Say
"Working with Bloom Legal has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made. Seth and his team are professional, fast, and dedicated. Seth is a lot more than a lawyer; he is a fighter! Seth took on my case and treated me like a person instead of a client. He made a difficult situation very easy. I am very thankful for Seth and his team!"
Posted By: Tyler Ales