What Makes Determining Bus Accident Liability Unique?
Bus accidents often involve several responsible parties and tend to cause serious injuries and significant property damage. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, the bus driver, bus company or operator, manufacturer, government entity, or school district could be considered liable. Sometimes, it can be hard to identify who is responsible for your accident, but an attorney can assist you in holding all parties accountable.
Is the Bus Driver Liable?
A bus driver may be held responsible for an accident if they were driving recklessly, speeding, ignoring traffic signals, or operating the vehicle while fatigued. They can also be liable if they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol or distracted by activities such as using a phone while driving.
Is the Bus Company Liable?
The bus company or operator may be liable if its hiring or training practices were negligent, such as failing to properly train drivers or hiring someone with a history of drunk or reckless driving. A company may also be negligent if it fails to conduct background checks or perform required drug screenings on its drivers.
Vicarious liability assigns responsibility to one party for another person’s actions. Under Arizona law, you can hold an employer accountable for their employees’ actions while on the job. For example, if a driver of a shuttle bus was driving his route while under the influence of alcohol, their employer could be sued for their employee’s actions.
Is the Bus Manufacturer Liable?
A bus manufacturer could be liable for an accident under product liability laws if a defect in the bus’s design contributed to the crash or if the bus used faulty parts, such as bad brakes or tires. Product liability cases can be challenging because victims must prove a defect caused their injury. Working with the attorneys at Runion Personal Injury Lawyers ensures you receive thorough, compassionate representation throughout your claim.
Is the Government Entity or Municipality Liable?
In Arizona, you can sue a government entity if its negligence contributed to your accident, but you must first file a notice of claim. This step has a much shorter deadline than a typical personal injury case.
You may have grounds for a claim if poor road conditions, defective roadway design, malfunctioning traffic signals, or other neglected hazards contributed to the crash.
Is Your School District Liable?
A school district could be liable for your accident or injuries if it breaches any school transportation rules, such as negligent supervision of staff, failure to use safety equipment, or poor placement and routing that create unnecessary danger. But it’s important to remember that filing a claim against a government agency or school district comes with a strict 180-day deadline, so it is important to act quickly to preserve your right to compensation.
Additionally, Arizona’s sovereign immunity laws can limit compensation and define when government entities or public employees are protected from liability. Because many bus accidents involve public agencies or school districts, the claims process can be complex and stressful. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact Runion Injury Law Today
Bus accidents can be life-changing, especially when they involve a school bus and children. You don’t have to face the recovery process alone. Runion Personal Injury Lawyers are committed to helping you rebuild, pursue fair compensation, and seek justice after your bus accident. Our attorneys handle every aspect of your case and guide you through each step.
Our attorneys understand the ins and outs of a legal claim for bus collisions, with a 99 percent success rate, and over $50 million recovered for personal injury victims. Call us at (602) 600-9000 or contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
