Albany, GA Bus Accident Lawyer

Countless buses travel across Georgia every day. Unfortunately, some number of those buses are going to get in crashes and seriously injure lots of people. Victims of bus accidents often struggle with expensive medical treatment and adjusting to living with potentially life-altering injuries. The difficulty of grappling with the aftermath of a bus crash can be made even worse if a victim suspects that the accident happened because someone was not careful enough.

If were riding a bus, got injured, and need help, get in touch with us. We can collect evidence, form an effective legal argument, and fight hard for you before, during, and after the trial so that you can focus on recovering from any injuries you have and getting back to living your life.

The bus accident attorneys from Rice, Murtha & Psoras can discuss your case for free when you call our office at the number (470) 287-3070.

Who Can You Sue in Bus Accident Lawsuits in Albany, GA

An important thing that you and our bus accident lawyers need to determine early on in the legal process is who you are going to sue. While your first instinct may be to file against anyone and everyone who may have had something to do with your crash, it is actually better for your chances of success if you file against parties that you know – or are at least very certain – had a hand in causing your crash.

Bus Drivers

The most likely target for a bus accident lawsuit is the driver of the bus involved in the crash. When trying to determine whether a bus driver was negligent, you undergo a similar analysis to when you are determining whether any other driver was negligent. If the bus driver broke a traffic law or acted in a way that a reasonable driver would not, they can be held liable for your injuries.

In determining whether a bus driver acted reasonably, you can also take into account whether they were properly trained or acted as a trained bus driver would have. If they are not properly trained, they may implicate other parties besides the bus driver.

Other Drivers

Bus accidents are not always caused by bus drivers. Sometimes, another driver is to blame. For example, if another driver crashes into a bus, you should sue them, not the bus driver. Again, you determine whether another driver was negligent by proving that they violated traffic laws or otherwise acted unreasonably.

Bus Companies

In many cases, you can also use the bus companies in addition to the bus driver. There are a couple of things that could attach liability to a bus company from a bus driver’s actions. First, there is a legal principle called ”respondeat superior” –  “let the master answer” – that lets injured plaintiffs sue employers for the negligent actions of their employees. The “catch” is that the employee had to be doing something related to their job. For example, if a bus driver was ferrying passengers and crashed into a building because they were not paying attention, liability will attach to the driver’s employer because ferrying passengers is a work-related activity.

Another way that liability can be attached to employers is through negligent hiring practices or by failing to train their drivers. For example, suppose a bus company hires drivers they know are untrained in order to cut costs. That company can be found negligent if one of those drivers injures people in an accident. Alternatively, if a bus company promises that it will train drivers once hired and then does not do so, it can also be liable for not providing the training drivers need to operate buses safely.

Government Entities

Sometimes, you may be able to sue a government entity in a bus accident lawsuit. The main ways this may come up is if you were using public transportation like Albany Transit or if poor conditions on roads a government entity is responsible for maintaining caused an accident. In either case, there may be special rules for suing the government, so you should discuss the topic with our attorneys early on in your claim.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bus Accident Claim in Albany, GA

You do not have an unlimited amount of time to file a bus accident lawsuit in Georgia. Per O.G.C.A. § 9-3-33, you have two years from the time you are injured to file your claim. Once those two years are up, courts cannot hear your case, and you will not be able to collect any damages.

Two years may seem like a long time, but when you consider the time it takes to recover from injuries and gather enough information to properly file a lawsuit, those two years can go by very fast. Accordingly, it is always better to start the legal process early to ensure your claim is filed on time.

What Damages Can I Seek in Bus Accident Lawsuits in Albany, GA

When you file your claim, you also have to specify what damages you are seeking and why you are seeking them. Your damages are based on your unique situation, so they will not exactly mirror any other claim.

You can get compensation for things like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, and you can show evidence like bills, invoices, and other tangible things to demonstrate that you are entitled to those damages. Additionally, you can get financial compensation for less immediately demonstrable things like pain and suffering or emotional distress. Since the latter two things do not have a bill denoting their value, you will need to work with our attorneys to determine their worth and show the court that you are entitled to compensation for those injuries.

Get Help with Your Claim from Our Albany, GA Bus Accident Attorneys Today

Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (470) 287-3070 and get a free, no-obligation review of your case from our bus accident attorneys today.