Boca Raton Bus Accident Lawyer
Bus accidents in Palm Beach County usually cause catastrophic injuries. The passengers usually aren’t wearing the most protective seat belts, since many buses aren’t equipped with them. Additionally, these claims are procedurally complex. Municipal bus accidents are subject to the sovereign immunity law, which makes it difficult to sue city hall. Intercity and tour bus accidents often involve victims from different countries and even different states. Furthermore, out-of-state transportation and other holding companies often own these vehicles.
Your injury claim is far too valuable to entrust to just any lawyer. Fortunately, the experienced Boca Raton bus accident lawyers at Smith, Ball & Báez routinely handle these matters throughout the Sunshine State. We know all the rules in all local courts, both the written and unwritten ones. Furthermore, over the years, we have developed proven results that generate life-changing results. We’re confident that these methods will lead to the same result in your case.
Injuries in Bus Accidents
Aggressive driving and driver impairment causes about 98 percent of the bus accidents in Florida. SInce these vehicles are so large and so difficult to control, a slight error in either area often causes serious injuries, such as:
- Broken Bones: Bus accidents normally toss victims about and throw them from the vehicle. All this violent motion usually shatters bones instead of just breaking them. Since doctors must use metal parts to surgically reconstruct these bones, physical therapists must work harder to help these victims regain lost function. This one-two punch significantly drives up the cost of medical expenses in this area.
- Spine Injuries: There’s a difference between a broken bone and a broken spine. The spine isn’t a single bone. Instead, it’s a long chain of delicate bones which are connected by sensitive nerves. At best, spine misalignment causes painful injuries that are difficult to treat. At worst, such injuries cause permanent paralysis.
- Brain Injuries: The motion of a bus crash often causes brain injuries as well. The skull is essentially a water tank that suspends the tiny brain in cerebrospinal fluid. Extreme motion causes the brain to slam against the insides of the skull. These multiple, severe impacts usually cause brain bleeding and swelling.
The aggressive driving could be driving slightly above the speed limit. Marginal excessive speed in a large vehicle often causes loss of control.
Marginal fatigue could cause a wreck as well. Most people are naturally drowsy early in the morning and late at night, no matter how much sleep they had the night before. Many bus drivers are behind the wheel at these hours.
Liability Issues
Compensation is available if negligence or a lack of care, caused injury. Marginal fatigue and marginal speeding normally isn’t negligence, if the tortfeasor (negligent driver) was a noncommercial operator. But bus drivers and other commercial operators have a higher duty of care. Almost any driving mistake constitutes negligence.
As mentioned, a government agency or out-of-state transportation company usually owns the bus in question. Therefore, these claims usually involve respondeat superior employer liability claims. Employers are legally responsible for the injuries their drivers or other employees cause while they’re acting within the course and scope of employment.
Reach Out to a Hard-Hitting Palm Beach County Bus Accident Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced bus injury lawyer in Boca Raton, contact Smith, Ball, Baez & Prather, Florida Injury Lawyers. Virtual, home, and hospital visits are available.
