Bus Accidents in Pennsylvania
Buses are a convenient form of public transit—they provide a way to travel throughout Pennsylvania cities. School buses are great for transporting people to schools, events, and more. Unfortunately, though, like all motorized vehicles, city buses and school buses can get into accidents.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can look like a bus hitting or side-swiping another vehicle, or a bus hitting or side-swiping a pedestrian or a bicyclist. Bus accidents can also involve passenger injury when the bus is poorly maintained or when the bus driver acts negligently.
Some common causes of bus accidents include:
- Poor weather conditions,
- Lack of training (bus driver),
- Other motorists, and
- Poor maintenance or faulty bus parts.
If you are injured in a bus accident, you may be entitled to compensation.
Bus Accident Liability
It can sometimes be difficult to determine who is responsible for your injury. Is it the bus driver? Is it the school? Is it the local township or municipality? It could be one or more of these. Each of these parties can be held responsible for bus accident-related injuries depending on your case. However, liability will vary in degree to the injuries you’ve sustained. If your case goes to court, a jury will determine the degree of each party’s liability based on the description of the accident.
What Should You do after a Bus Accident?
After the accident occurs, call the police and report the accident to them. Seek medical treatment quickly for any injuries you’ve sustained. Additionally, take pictures of where the accident occurred. Obtain contact information from eyewitnesses to help build your case. Contact a personal injury attorney, like the ones at Cornerstone Law Firm, to help you negotiate with insurance and file a personal injury claim.
Under Pennsylvania law, you have two years to file an action to recover damages (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524). In most cases, it’s better to file sooner than later.
What remedies are available?
The remedies available for a bus accident will vary based on the degree of the accident. Many remedies include financial compensation that covers medical expenses. Additionally, if the injuries are severe, you may be able to recover lost wages for time that you missed work. You may also be able to receive damages for pain and suffering that arose from the bus accident.
Contact Cornerstone Law Firm for help.
An experienced personal injury attorney can negotiate with insurance companies, contact other parties involved, and fight for your legal rights. Call Cornerstone Law Firm today to schedule a free personal injury consultation and discuss what how to move forward after your bus accident.
