Knoxville Bus Accident Lawyers

Who is legally responsible after a bus accident in which you were riding on the bus? That depends on whose negligence caused or contributed to the accident. Of course, if the driver of a private passenger vehicle was at fault for the accident, his liability insurance coverage will be responsible for compensating you for your losses. If the at-fault driver is uninsured, you may be able to pursue an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance carrier. In limited circumstances, the bus may carry uninsured motorist coverage to protect you in this situation.

Suppose the bus driver is at fault. If the bus driver committed a driving error such as rear-ending another vehicle or driving while fatigued or intoxicated, a bus accident lawyer in the Knoxville area should be able to show that the bus driver was negligent and should be held responsible for your losses. If the bus driver was cited for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or for violating a traffic law such as speeding, you may be able to seek recovery under a theory of negligence per se where negligence is presumed if a driver violated a traffic or safety law. In many cases, the employer (bus company) may be vicariously liable for any injuries caused by the negligent bus driver if the bus driver was acting within the course and scope of his employment at the time of the wreck.

Now suppose the bus driver’s error was not a result of negligence on his part, but was instead due to inadequate training by his employer. In that situation, the employer may be responsible for compensating you for your losses. Employers must ensure bus drivers are trained in the operation of these large vehicles. Special considerations must be taken into account when backing up and turning, for example.

What if the accident resulted from a tire blowout or due to mechanical problems with the bus? Who is responsible then? All Tennessee drivers are expected to maintain their vehicles in a reasonable working manner while operating them on roadways within the state. This includes buses. If the accident occurred due to inadequate maintenance of the bus, the bus owner may be directly liable for your injuries. If a crash ensued due to a defective part on the bus, a product liability claim may be asserted against the manufacturer of that component part.

The at-fault party in a bus accident will vary from case to case, depending on how the collision occurred. There are also situations in which multiple parties may share responsibility for the accident. Since these cases are often complex and fact-intensive, it is important to contact a bus accident attorney in Knoxville as soon as possible following your involvement in a bus accident so that the attorney can investigate all potential claims and sources of recovery and gather the necessary evidence to prove those claims. It may be necessary to interview eyewitnesses, speak with other passengers on the bus, visit the scene of the accident to gather physical evidence, and consult with an accident reconstruction expert to prove how the accident happened and who should be responsible for your injuries.