Traveling by bus can be safer than traveling by personal vehicle in many respects, but that does not mean accidents involving public and private mass transit vehicles never occur. Additionally, crashes involving buses tend to have more serious repercussions than collisions between commuter cars since many buses are not equipped with seatbelts or any other safety features to protect passengers in the event of a wreck.
Perhaps most importantly, there are several unique rules and restrictions for civil claims built around bus injuries that can make it uniquely difficult to recover financially from this sort of wreck without a seasoned personal injury attorney’s assistance. Fortunately, the help you need is available from a Lake County bus accident lawyer from Largey Law Firm who could personally fight to protect your rights and ensure you get fair restitution for the harm someone else’s negligence has caused you.
Is It Possible to Sue Over a Public Bus Crash?
While government entities in Florida and throughout the United States enjoy “qualified immunity” from many forms of civil liability, state law notably carves out auto accident litigation as one of a few exceptions to this rule. If someone operating a bus for LakeXpress or any other public transit service acts irresponsibly in the course of their employment and causes someone else to get hurt, they may be held civilly liable for the accident just like any other type of driver could.
Importantly, though, the Florida Tort Claims Act establishes numerous restrictions on these sorts of claims that do not apply to other types of personal injury litigation, including caps on maximum recoverable compensation and sometimes unique filing deadlines. During a confidential consultation, a Lake County bus accident attorney could discuss what rules may apply to a particular prospective lawsuit.
Other Unique Aspects of Bus Accident Claims
Another thing worth noting about lawsuits built around both public and private bus accidents is that an individual bus driver is rarely the only party who may hold civil liability for injuries stemming from a wreck. In most situations, the company or government body that employs a negligent driver can be held “vicariously liable” for their employee’s misconduct, which can significantly increase the amount of compensation available to the injured person.
Furthermore, a bus injury lawyer in Lake County could help take action over injuries caused by a bus driver’s negligence, even if that negligence did not result in a traffic collision. For example, it may be possible to file suit over an injury sustained by a passenger who fell out of their seat after their bus driver slammed on the brakes too hard or who fell while boarding the bus because their driver accelerated too quickly away from a scheduled stop.
Talk to a Lake County Bus Accident Attorney About Your Legal Options
Bus accidents can cause immense physical, financial, and personal losses, ranging from relatively straightforward expenses like medical bills and missed work wages to long-lasting losses of working capacity, mental well-being, and overall enjoyment of life. All these damages and more can be factored into a lawsuit or settlement demand against the people responsible for harming you through a bus crash—but only if you understand and then make effective use of your rights under Florida civil law.
The guidance of a capable Lake County bus accident lawyer can be absolutely invaluable from beginning to end of your legal proceedings. Call today to schedule a meeting and discuss your options for civil recovery.
