Palm Beach Gardens Bus Accident Lawyer
The roads and highways in Palm Beach Gardens and its surrounding areas are used by many types of vehicles including charter buses, school buses, and transit buses. These large vehicles help tourists and residents get to and from different destinations and they provide a reliable mode of transportation. Unfortunately, operators and bus companies are often negligent and this causes serious accidents that result in catastrophic injuries to innocent passengers and bystanders.
If you or someone you love has been hurt, you can file a claim for compensation to recover your losses. The personal injury process, though, is not an easy one. Our Palm Beach Gardens bus accidents lawyer can help you claim the maximum damages you are entitled to.
Determining Liability After a Bus Accident
Most bus accidents are caused by the negligence, or careless, actions of another person or entity. Determining which party was liable for a crash, though, is extremely difficult when a bus is involved. In fact, the liable party may not even be present at the accident scene. Potential liable parties after a bus accident can include:
- The bus driver
- The owner of the bus
- Any mechanic that negligently performed work on the bus
- Any manufacturer of the bus or parts on the bus
- The municipality where the crash occurred
Although it is always difficult to determine liability after a bus accident, there are times when it is even more complex. If the accident involved a school or city bus, for example, the local government may be liable and this will make a case much more complicated.
What Causes Bus Accidents in Palm Beach Gardens?
Bus drivers, like all other motorists, owe a certain duty of care to their passengers. When a bus driver or company charges their passengers a fee for transportation, they are considered common carriers and the duty of care owed is even higher. Bus drivers, and the companies they work for, can be held liable for paying damages when they breach this duty of care. Some of the most common breaches of duty, or negligent acts, that cause bus accidents are as follows:
- Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Drowsy driving, particularly when a bus driver has been on the road for a long period of time
- Distracted driving
- Buses that are filled with more passengers than their official capacity allows
- Improper training
- Failure to comply with traffic laws, signs, or signals
Typically, a full investigation should be conducted to determine who is liable for paying damages after a bus accident, which is one reason it is so important to speak to a lawyer afterwards.
Call Our Bus Accident Lawyer in Palm Beach Gardens for a Free Case Review
At Smith, Ball, Baez & Prather, our Palm Beach Gardens bus accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation to determine who is liable for your injuries and hold them responsible for paying full damages. Call or text us now at 561-500-HELP or reach out to us online to schedule a free review of your case and to learn more about how we can help.
