In purely statistical terms, traveling by public or commercial bus is actually much safer than driving or riding in a commuter car — but try telling that to anyone who has recently been hurt in a traffic accident involving a multi-ton “common carrier.” Even at low speeds, vehicles as big as modern buses can cause catastrophic harm to multiple people at once when their drivers do not operate them responsibly, including people riding the bus when it crashes and those who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Either way, you likely have a right to file civil suit over the injuries you have sustained from a wreck like this, and you have help available from the seasoned personal injury attorneys at Phillips Law Group in doing so. Once retained, a Gilbert bus accident lawyer from our team will put every bit of our 30+ years of experience practicing in the Phoenix metro area to work for you, even if that means going to court to get you paid what you deserve.
Possible Grounds for a Bus Accident Lawsuit
Regardless of what type of vehicle they are operating, everyone who drives on public Arizona roads has the same broad “duty of care” requiring them to obey traffic laws and generally act responsibly behind the wheel. Accordingly, a bus driver who causes a traffic collision because they broke a traffic law, was driving while drunk or distracted, or was otherwise irresponsible is likely “negligent” as defined under Arizona civil law, which means they — and often their employer as well — could be liable for all forms of harm that the crash they caused directly results in.
In addition, “common carriers” like bus companies that transport passengers for a fee have an additional duty to make sure their passengers do not suffer avoidable injuries in transit. This means that a Gilbert bus accident attorney may be able to help take legal action over something like a fall on board a bus caused by the driver slamming on the brakes suddenly, even if there was no collision with any other vehicle or stationary object.
Getting Around Legal Obstacles to Recovery
Legal counsel can also play a key role in making sure the process goes as smoothly as possible for someone seriously injured in a bus crash. For example, they can make sure an injured person formally begins that legal process within the filing deadline set by state law, which is generally two years after the date on which the prospective “plaintiff” first sustained the injury they are suing over.
Additionally, a bus wreck lawyer in Gilbert can help fight allegations that an injured person was partly to blame for their own injuries through their own negligent conduct. Otherwise, in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes §12-2505, a court might assign them a percentage of “comparative fault” for their accident and reduce the total compensation available to them in proportion to that percentage.
Contact a Gilbert Bus Accident Attorney for Assistance
In some ways, bus accidents can be just as dangerous as tractor-trailer wrecks, potentially causing harm to dozens of people at once. Unfortunately, this means crashes of this nature also tend to make for complicated civil lawsuits, which can end up being even harder and more time-consuming without support from qualified legal representation.
With a Gilbert bus accident lawyer on your side, you will be able to enforce your rights and demand every cent of the restitution you need for your losses more effectively.
Call Phillips Law Group to speak with a member of our team about your legal options. Your initial consultation is free, and you are under no obligation to work with us after this visit. Let us put our decades of experience to work for you! Please do not hesitate to reach out today to learn more.
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