Party bus companies should be held responsible for accidents that their drivers cause. Whether you were renting a party bus for a special occasion or you were hit while sharing the road with a party bus, you could be entitled to substantial compensation for the injuries you face in a party bus accident.
Rice, Murtha & Psoras ’s Maryland party bus accident and injury lawyers represent the victims of party bus accidents and other auto accidents throughout the State of Maryland. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling these cases and getting victims the compensation they need for serious injuries, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages. For a free legal consultation on your case, call our law offices today at (410) 694-7291.
Damages for Injuries in a Party Bus Accident
If you were injured on a party bus or suffered injuries in a crash involving a party bus, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. There are usually no seatbelts on a party bus, so the passengers can often face severe injuries by falling or being thrown into a wall even if there was no accident. Additionally, the passengers in the back of a party bus could face severe or even life-threatening injuries if the bus is involved in an accident or flips or rolls over due to negligent driving. Victims could also be injured in other cars or as bystanders involved in the crash.
In many of these cases, victims are entitled to compensation from the at-fault parties. This means that whoever caused the crash, whether that be the bus driver or another driver – could be sued for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering stemming from the accident.
Damages for medical expenses can be claimed to cover the cost of emergency treatment after the crash as well as ongoing medical expenses to deal with follow-up treatment, permanent injuries, disabilities, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Damages for lost wages can be claimed to cover the cost of any wages the injured party faces while recovering as well as any reduction in earning capacity the victim will face because of permanent injuries or disabilities acquired in the crash. Lastly, the victim can also claim damages for pain and suffering and other intangible harms they faced.
The family of someone killed in a crash might be entitled to these damages on the deceased’s behalf as well as additional damages the family faces, such as funeral and burial expenses, lost household services, lost companionship, and more.
Insurance Settlements and Personal Injury Lawsuits for Party Bus Accidents in Maryland
Many car accidents and other auto accident cases are handled through insurance claims. In some cases, these claims might be sufficient to cover minor injuries or damage to a vehicle, but severe injury cases often require additional damages that the insurance policy will not cover. Party bus companies and transportation companies often carry high-dollar insurance policies that can cover at least up to $1 million dollars. However, these policies might cover only a portion of the damages for medical bills and lost wages, and they might not cover any intangible damages like pain and suffering. As such, you often need another way to claim compensation.
A lawsuit filed against the at-fault driver and the party bus company can often supply you with the full damages you are entitled to. the damages awarded in a lawsuit are not limited by an insurance policy, and the court can order the at-fault parties to directly pay the full value of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages.
It is vital to talk to your attorney about what damages you are entitled to in your case and what damages you might be missing if you try to handle your case through an insurance claim. Most times, accepting an insurance claim or a settlement offer from the at-fault party will count as a settlement, meaning that you can no longer take your case back to court for damages because the case is already resolved. it is vital to talk to a lawyer first so that you can set yourself up for success and have an advocate who can help guide you through what your case is worth and how to maximize the compensation you receive.
Proving Fault in a Party Bus Accident
In most cases, either the party bus driver or another driver will be at-fault for the crash. it is rare that a passenger in the vehicle or some other outside party like a pedestrian would be at fault, but our lawyers will also investigate those possibilities. Usually, the at-fault driver can be held responsible for the crash by pointing to traffic violations they committed or errors they made behind the wheel. For instance, if a driver ran a red light, was speeding, or was driving under the influence when the crash occurred, the law will consider them at fault.
If more than one driver shared fault in the crash, you can usually sue all of them. the court will decide which parties were at fault and what share of the damages each party owes you. As such, you can often include the party bus company in the lawsuit as well. These companies can often be made to cover the damages their driver caused since they were working as an employee for the bus company when the crash occurred. Additionally, the party bus company is usually responsible for any problems with the vehicle and driver safety that might have contributed to the crash.
Call Our Maryland Party Bus Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation on Your Injury Case
If you suffered serious injuries in an accident on a party bus or if a loved one died in a crash involving a party bus, call the Maryland injury lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras today. Our attorneys have decades of experience fighting on behalf of injury victims and their families to get them the compensation they need after an auto accident. For a free legal consultation, call our attorneys today at (410) 694-7291.