Operating a large bus is a tremendous responsibility, and most bus drivers view safety very seriously. However, it only takes one negligent or untrained driver to ruin your life. Bus crashes can cause horrible damage, and if you have been in one, you may not know what to do next.
You might have injuries that keep you away from your job, making it hard to pay your bills and perform daily activities such as caring for your family. You have a right to seek compensation, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our Kirkland bus accident lawyers can help.
Our Kirkland personal injury lawyers at Premier Law Group have helped thousands of clients since 2001. When you get hit, we hit back harder. Contact us today to schedule a free case review.
Do You Need an Attorney for a Bus Accident Case?
It is always wise to enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer whenever you are hurt in an accident. A skilled lawyer can help file your claim and prevent you from making common mistakes that can hurt your chances of getting the compensation you need.
For example, sometimes insurance companies offer low settlements, assuming you don’t understand what your claim is really worth. They’re hoping to take advantage of you during a tough time and get away with paying you less than you deserve.
Our Kirkland bus accident attorneys can handle the insurance companies so you don’t have to. We know their tactics and won’t let them manipulate you. We’re here to ensure you are treated fairly so you can obtain the funds you need to recover from your accident.
Determining Liability in a Bus Accident
Your attorney will investigate your accident to understand what happened. We must determine who is liable for your damages so we can strategize accordingly. While it might seem obvious that the bus driver is to blame, there are other possibilities.
Some examples of potential liable parties in a bus accident include:
- The driver could be liable if they were distracted, driving recklessly, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or otherwise negligent in their duty to protect their passengers and other motorists.
- The bus company could be liable if it did not properly train drivers, maintain the buses safely, or hire drivers with adequate background checks.
- The maintenance company that services the bus fleet could be at fault for the accident if it allowed unsafe vehicles on the road or did not perform routine upkeep.
- The bus or parts manufacturer could be held liable for your accident if components failed or if a design flaw resulted in catastrophic failure.
- Another driver could be partially or totally responsible if their actions caused the bus to veer off the road and crash into you.
- The local government may be held responsible in cases where unsafe roads, unmarked construction, or poorly designed bus lanes contributed to the crash.
Comparative Negligence
What if you were partially responsible for the accident? You still may recover compensation for your damages. Washington state operates under the pure comparative negligence doctrine, which says you can recoup your damages based on your percentage of fault.
If you are 30% responsible for the accident, for example, you can recover 70% of the damages you would have been entitled to if you held zero fault. This is helpful as it allows accident victims to get compensation based on their involvement.
However, it also allows insurance companies an opening to deny your total compensation if they claim you were partially at fault when you were not. Your bus accident lawyer in Kirkland may need to file a civil suit to let a court hear the evidence and determine your responsibility.
For a FREE legal consultation with a bus accident lawyer serving Kirkland, call (206) 285-1743
GET A FREE CASE EVALUATION
How Much Are Damages in a Bus Accident Case?
It is impossible to estimate what your case might be worth without a thorough evaluation. The amount of your settlement or award will depend on the circumstances of your specific case. Some bus accident cases are worth millions of dollars, and some only a few thousand.
While your lawyer will not be able to give you an exact amount right away, they can calculate your maximum compensation based on your economic and non-economic damages. The extent of these hardships will determine your compensation.
Economic Damages
When you are hurt in a bus accident, your injuries could require extensive medical care. Even if you have health insurance, the deductibles and co-pays could result in debts you can’t afford. Your settlement or award may help you pay costs such as:
- Hospital stays
- Doctors appointments
- Procedures
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy
Additionally, your economic damages can include lost wages if you were unable to work when you were injured or the cost of property damage, such as repairs to your vehicle. It is smart to keep track of all of your expenses so your attorney can include everything.
Non-Economic Damages
Because of your accident, you may suffer in ways that have nothing to do with money or property. Non-economic damages are meant to account for the damage done to your emotional, mental, and social well-being.
While this type of compensation is harder to recover, depending on your case, your attorney may be able to include non-economic damages like pain and suffering and mental anguish in your claim.
Get Help From a Kirkland Bus Accident Attorney
Bus drivers and the companies that employ them have a responsibility to operate safely. That’s not only to protect their passengers but every driver on the roads as well. When they fail in their duty and cause you harm, you have the right to seek damages.
When you are injured, filing an insurance claim can be frustrating enough. When the insurance company that’s supposed to help denies your claim, it can feel hopeless. Our Kirkland bus accident attorneys can be your advocate to make sure you get what you deserve.
Our team at Premier Law Group has over 55 years of combined experience standing up for injured people in need. Contact us today to schedule your free case review and learn how we can help.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.