It takes a lot of energy and skill to safely operate a vehicle as large as a bus. Unfortunately, circumstances can get the best of even the most experienced bus driver, causing them to lose control of their vehicle and endanger the people around them. Circumstance doesn’t excuse negligence, though.
If you find yourself struggling to financially recover after a bus accident, you’re not alone. Depew, NY, bus accident attorneys can help you get back on your feet. You can book a case evaluation with Richmond Vona, LLC’s Depew personal injury lawyers to discuss your right to loss-based compensation today.
Assigning Responsibility for Bus Accident Losses
It’s not as easy as you might think to assign blame for a bus accident. Several unique factors can determine who you have the right to blame for your losses. You need to break these factors down if you want to file either an insurance or personal injury claim demanding damages for your losses.
You can turn to a Depew bus crash attorney for help bringing together the hard data you need to prove accident responsibility. That data can range from a bus’s internally-produced data to video footage of your accident. Bystander testimony also has a powerful place in your fight for accident compensation.
You can discuss what forms of evidence may have the most relevance in your case when you first meet with Richmond Vona, LLC’s team of legal professionals for a FREE case assessment.
Filing a Civil Claim Against City Drivers
The city of Depew protects its bus drivers with a concept known as qualified immunity. Qualified immunity prevents city employees – most often police officers – from having to go to civil court, even in the wake of negligence-based accidents. In other words, qualified immunity can make it quite difficult to hold a city driver accountable for your losses.
It’s not impossible to sue a city driver, though, or even the city of Depew at large. We recommend that you meet with an attorney as soon as you can after an accident so you can better stay ahead of any reduced deadlines the city attempts to put on your right to legal action.
Our team can break down what role, if any, qualified immunity may have in your fight for compensation before working within relevant deadlines to bring your case forward.
Filing a Civil Claim Against a Private Corporation
Private corporations like Greyhound are reluctant to take on liability for a bus driver’s roadway negligence. That’s why many private corporations prefer to hire bus drivers on contracts instead of as employees.
Independent contractors must assume responsibility not only for their own insurance coverage but also for any legal consequences they may face due to roadway negligence. School corporations and businesses alike can rely on independent contractors to do their jobs without providing those drivers with legal protections.
That’s why it’s important to determine what contract a liable bus driver works on before you bring a personal injury claim forward in civil court. You can sue the individual if they work as an independent contractor, but you can sue a corporation if they work as an employee.
For a free legal consultation with a bus accident lawyer serving Depew, call (716) 300-5885
How to Fight For Comprehensive Bus Accident Support
Once you file a personal injury claim and a judge moves it forward, you get to determine how you fight for the bus accident compensation you deserve. A Depew, NY, bus collision lawyer can arrange out-of-court negotiations between you and a liable party if you want to avoid a trial.
These negotiations can be resolved more quickly than a bus accident trial, but they require a lot of input on your part. Negotiations also put you face-to-face with the party responsible for your serious injuries, which many survivors may find uncomfortable.
If you’d rather go to trial, our attorneys can discuss the pros and cons of bench trials, arbitration, and jury trials. You can count on our representation no matter what path toward support you choose.
Know the Value of Your Case
You need to calculate the total value of your bus accident case before you choose how you want to fight for compensation. Courts require you to have a concrete request for damages established in your initial claim, but there are other benefits to these early calculations, too.
If you decide you want to negotiate for support, knowing the value of your case can prevent a liable party from trying to undervalue your losses. Likewise, this information can help you determine what forms of loss-based evidence are most relevant to present to a judge and jury should you go to trial.
The losses you can most often integrate into a bus accident claim can include the following:
- Emotional distress
- Property damage and restoration
- Emergency medical care, including ambulance fees
- Long-term medical services
- Lost wages
- Mental anguish
- Stress
You can count on our attorneys to transparently calculate the value of your case before taking your claim and concerns to court.
Depew Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me (716) 300-5885
Act Before Time Runs Out
New York Civil Practice Law & Rules section 214 states that bus accident survivors who want to take legal action against a liable party must do so within three years of the accident. Bus accident lawyers in Depew, NY, can make sure you stay on top of this deadline as you investigate your losses.
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Turn to Experienced Bus Accident Attorneys in Depew for Legal Support
There’s a lot of red tape surrounding your right to take bus drivers to civil court. We don’t let that stand in our way, though. Richmond Vona, LLC, believes that you, as a survivor, have the right to fully recover from losses that stem from someone else’s bad behavior. You can count on us to put decades of combined legal experience to use on your behalf.
You can book a free case assessment with our Depew bus accident attorneys today to learn more about the different ways you can fight for accident-related compensation after a crash. Your first case assessment comes free of charge and does not obligate you to pursue further legal action.
Come and meet the team of fighters prepared to stand up for you!
Call or text (716) 300-5885 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form