Bus accidents can cause passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers to suffer serious injuries. These injuries can lead to many forms of economic and non-economic damages. Fortunately, victims can recover payment for the harm they suffered.
Bus accident lawsuits can take from weeks to months to years to complete. There are several factors that can influence the path to compensation in your case. A bus accident lawyer can help recover the full range of monetary damages available to you.
If you were injured because of a bus accident in Long Island, get help building your case. Get in touch with our experienced Long Island bus accident lawyers today by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083. Our attorneys can provide a free case assessment.
Who to Sue for a Bus Accident in Long Island?
There are multiple parties who may be liable for a Long Island bus accident. After a crash, our Long Island bus accident lawyers can help determine who to sue.
Some bus companies are private. For example, companies like Greyhound and Megabus are owned and operated by private businesses. Also, a great number of busses are rented out by private charter companies. If your accident involved a private bus company, you may be able to seek payment from that company for the injuries you incurred. Our team can help investigate the cause of your crash and evaluate the strength of your claim against the private bus company at issue.
Other busses are controlled as part of Long Island’s public transportation system. Suing a public entity can be more complicated than seeking compensation from a private bus company. If you were hurt because of a bus accident involving a public vehicle, you can call our attorneys for help determining how to proceed.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Long Island
There are many different potential causes of bus accidents. The cause of your accident can influence the path to compensation in your case. Our experienced Long Island bus accident lawyers can investigate whether your crash stems from one of the following causes:
Tired Driving
A great number of bus accidents are caused by tired drivers. Fatigued bus drivers are prone to making careless mistakes behind the wheel. For instance, a bus driver may fail to yield the right-of-way and strike a pedestrian as they are using the crosswalk. Tired bus drivers may be held responsible for accidents they cause.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is another common cause of bus accidents in Long Island. Drivers can become manually, visually, or cognitively distracted. The following are examples of activities that can distract bus drivers:
- Talking with passengers
- Eating or drinking
- Texting
- Talking on the phone
- Viewing social media on a mobile device
Some activities, like texting, can incorporate all three forms of distraction. Our team can help bus accident victims investigate whether their accidents were caused by distracted drivers.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Bus companies should maintain their vehicles in proper working order. This means that inspections should be performed on a regular basis and any problems with their vehicles must be attended to promptly. Unfortunately, some inspectors cannot keep up with the immense number of inspections they are asked to perform. Furthermore, some bus companies may attempt to save money by delaying maintenance that they consider unnecessary. Our Long Island bus accident lawyers can help build your case against a bus company for failing to properly maintain their vehicle.
Defective Parts
Additionally, some bus accidents happen because of defective parts. For example, a bus may cause a rear-end collision with another vehicle because of a malfunctioning braking component that prevented the vehicle from slowing down. In such cases, our attorneys can help victims bring claims against the defective products’ manufacturers.
Speeding
Lastly, speeding is a common cause of bus accidents in Long Island. Most vehicles become more difficult to handle at high speeds. However, busses can be even harder to control. Bus drivers travelling at illegal speeds are prone to running red lights, veering outside of their lanes, and tailgating other motorists. Our team of experienced Long Island bus accident lawyers can help victims of such accidents prove that speeding drivers are at fault.
Time Limit to File a Bus Accident Lawsuit in Long Island
C.V.P. Law § 214 establishes the time limit for filing a bus accident lawsuit in Long Island. Generally, you will have three years from the date of your crash to file your case. Noncompliance with this deadline could cause you to miss out on important compensation.
Still, you should contact our Long Island bus accident lawyers as soon as possible after suffering a crash. Crucial evidence may become harder to collect as time passes. For instance, important details surrounding your accident can be forgotten, and physical evidence can become lost. The sooner you contact our attorneys, the more easily we can gather the information needed to support your lawsuit.
Proving Fault in a Long Island Bus Accident Lawsuit
Plaintiffs in bus accident lawsuits must demonstrate that their injuries were caused by defendants’ careless conduct. There are several types of evidence that can be used to prove that a defendant is at fault:
- Accident reports
- Witness statements
- Photos from the scene
- Physical evidence from the scene
- Expert witness statements
- Surveillance footage
- Personal recollections
Our experienced Long Island bus accident lawyers can help collect and preserve the aforementioned evidence in your case.
Elements of a Bus Accident Lawsuit in Long Island
Each bus accident lawsuit is unique. There are many different legal strategies that may be utilized to recover payment in your case. However, each of the following elements must be established in order for your case to prevail:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care
- The defendant breached their duty of care
- You were hurt because of the defendant’s breach of duty
- You sustained damages because of the injuries you incurred
During your free case review, our Long Island bus accident lawyers can help determine if these elements have been satisfied.
If You Suffered a Bus Accident in Long Island, Our Attorneys Can Help
If you were hurt because of a bus accident, seek support from our experienced Long Island bus accident lawyers by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 for a free review of your case.