Little Rock Bus Accident Lawyers

After a bus accident, like any other motor vehicle accident, the negligent party will typically be legally and financially responsible for the accident. In this situation, one or more parties may be at fault. The accident could result from the negligence of the bus driver or the driver of another vehicle, or it could be a combination thereof. The bus driver may have been speeding or driving distracted. In that case, your claim would be against the bus driver. The driver of another vehicle may have disregarded a stop sign, striking the bus, and then your claim would be against the driver of that vehicle. It is possible for multiple drivers to be at fault for a single collision.

Your claim may even be against the bus company. If the bus driver was negligently operating the bus during the course and scope of his employment, his employer may be vicariously liable for your injuries. You may also have claims against the employer directly for negligence if the bus driver was unfit for the position or improperly trained. A bus accident lawyer in Little Rock can advise you on the full scope of your options.

What if the bus company failed to perform necessary maintenance on the bus and this caused the accident? Under Arkansas and federal law, buses are required to be kept in a safe operating condition, and this duty includes routine inspection and maintenance of tires, brakes, and lights. Suppose a bus has a tire blowout and overturns because the tires were old and in poor condition. In this case, you may have a claim against the bus company for its inadequate maintenance of the vehicle. If the blowout occurs because the tires were defective, then you may be able to pursue a product liability claim against the tire or bus manufacturer.

Determining who is at fault after a bus accident will often depend on the known facts and the evidence available. In many cases, the at-fault party may be reluctant to step forward and accept responsibility for the collision, especially if it was severe or resulted in multiple people getting hurt. The bus driver may be afraid of losing his job and may try to place blame on another driver. The other driver may be afraid of criminal repercussions and deny fault as well. If neither party is willing to own up to the accident, then you may be stuck in the middle with no clear road to financial recovery. This can be problematic if you were seriously injured, or in the context of a Little Rock School District bus accident, if your child was hurt.

In any case, it is critical to have an experienced personal injury attorney in the Little Rock area on your side to obtain evidence from the scene of the accident, interview eyewitnesses, consult with accident reconstruction experts if necessary, and otherwise assist in proving liability against the parties that are responsible. Bus accidents present opportunities for multiple parties to engage in a swearing match, all pointing the finger at each other. Properly investigating the case can allow you to recover full compensation for your losses, which may include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.