Need an Injury Lawyer for an Ohio Bus Accident?
Many bus accidents take place every single year across the U.S., some of which wreak havoc on Ohio’s roadways. These accidents don’t just hit those who are headed to their morning commute, but also children and the elderly. Everybody is at risk in a bus accident when a driver loses control or another driver on the roadway is not watching out for the safety of others.
Many types of bus accidents occur in Ohio every year. In Ohio, specifically, school bus accidents happened more in 2015 than any previous years. In fact, they were involved in 1,590 traffic crashes, which has been slightly increasing for years. These accidents happen when drivers are driving distracted, driving drunk, or speeding in many different types of conditions.
“Common Carrier” Accidents
Have you ever heard of a common carrier? If you haven’t, you should know that you have probably already ridden on one in your life – maybe even hundreds of times! A common carrier is an entity whose business is transporting people from one destination to another for a fee. However, common carriers promise much more than just taking people from point A to point B- they’re also responsible for looking out for the safety of passengers. If you can prove that a driver acted negligently and it led to your injuries and suffering, you might have a case against a common carrier like a bus, plane, or train.
When building your case against a common carrier, you must be able to prove the following aspects:
- The defendant owed a duty of care to you, the plaintiff.
- The defendant breached this duty through a negligent action, such as speeding.
- The breach of duty was the cause of your injuries.
- The plaintiff suffered damages, which could be both physical and emotional in nature.
Proving Your Claim
You want to ensure that you have the utmost of evidence in your case when you are making a claim against either the bus driver or the bus company. Here are some different types of evidence that are seen in many cases:
- Expert witness testimony by showing through a witness that the carrier acted negligently under the circumstances and not within a reasonable standard
- Eyewitness testimony from those who were there at the time of the accident
- Photographs that show a dangerous staircase going up inside the bus, or how the bus and a car collided, which can show who was responsible
- Inspection records relating to the bus
Injuries Associated With These Accidents
In any accident case, you could find that you have sustained many damages. Perhaps the accident touched you on an emotional level, causing you distress every time you enter the roadways. Maybe you have missed time at work and don’t know when you’re going to be able to return, which has caused you financial strain. There are also a variety of injuries that are unique to bus accidents, from whiplash and other soft tissue injuries, broken bones, and bruising that takes quite some time to heal. The force of these accidents can be enough to cause serious injuries that will take time to overcome.
Buses are actually more likely than many other types of vehicles to tip over, which can add to the dangers of these accidents. You might need help when it comes to your claim, which is why you should always turn to an attorney in your time of need.
Bus accidents can sometimes become complicated matters. This is due to the fact that buses are usually owned by government entities on a private level, such as school districts and transportation companies. This could make your claim complex and you could have to meet a stricter statute of limitations as well as ensure that you are filing your claim against the right party. With all of these things in mind, you don’t want to handle your case alone.
Call us today if you have been injured in a bus accident and need our assistance. We take your Ohio bus accident seriously and want to help in your time of need. Call us as soon as possible to find out how we can offer our help.