In case of a bus accident, injury can result from an inexperienced driver, limited rest, or the intoxication of the driver. Upon the occurrence of a bus accident, it’s essential to immediately dial 911, document the scene with photos, gather info from your insurance provider, speak with potential witnesses, and promptly seek medical attention. Promptly seek legal counsel, too, as typically you have a window of three years or even less to file a litigation if you wish to proceed.

At the Law Office of Cesar Zuniga, Esq., we are sure that everyone hurt in a bus accident should know about their legal right to seek compensation. Our bus accident lawyers in Westchester can help you start this process right away. Call us today at (914) 677-1330 to find out more about our services or to make an appointment for a case review.

Causes of Bus Accidents

Bus driving is a hard job that requires a lot of training and concentration. When a bus driver is careless or reckless behind the wheel, it can be very dangerous for other drivers and for the people who are on the bus. Here are some of the most common ways that both the bus driver and the bus company can be held responsible for an accident.

Inadequate Training or Experience

A bus driver needs to know not only how to drive the bus, but also how to drive in the area where they are driving. If a driver is put behind the wheel before they are ready, their lack of experience could lead to accidents that cause horrible injuries. The company that owns or runs the bus is responsible for giving the drivers enough training and testing them on a regular basis to keep their skills at a high level.

Driver Fatigue

Bus drivers may work extra shifts to fill in for sick or absent drivers or to make up for lost time. The management’s job is to make sure that all of the drivers have time to rest before they start working. When you don’t get enough sleep, your reaction time and motor skills can be affected. These are two important skills for driving any kind of vehicle.

Driving Under the Influence

Everywhere in the country, drunk driving is a dangerous epidemic. If a bus driver is drunk on the job, they could cause serious accidents that could endanger the lives of other drivers and bus passengers. If the bus driver’s employer doesn’t check to see if the driver has a history of drunk driving and the accident is caused by a repeat offender, the employer may also be responsible for the damages caused to the victim.

Malfunctions and Defects

Buses have a lot of moving parts that need to be checked for safety and maintained regularly. The owner of the bus or the maintenance company may not do what they need to do to make sure these steps are followed. Also, the company that makes the bus (or a company that makes a part of the bus) may make bad products that cause safety features on the bus to stop working.

Steps to Take After Being Involved in a Bus Accident

What you do right after an accident can have a big effect on how much money you might be able to get from a lawsuit. Still, the most important thing is to make sure you are not in immediate danger.As soon as you are safe, call 911. Tell the dispatcher that you were in an accident so that they can send a police unit to the scene to write up a police report. You should also let them know about any serious injuries that need help from an ambulance.

You should try to start collecting evidence at the accident site. You should start by getting the bus driver’s and any other drivers name who may have been involved in the accident, including their contact and insurance information. This also means taking pictures and videos of the accident scene and any damage to cars or other property in the area. You should also try to talk to any other witnesses who saw what happened and can tell you what happened. Once these witnesses leave the scene, it can be hard to find them again, so you should get contact information from as many of them as possible, even if you don’t need it in the end.

As soon as the situation at the scene is under control, get medical help right away. You might have hurt yourself and not know it at the time. Putting off medical care could show that you didn’t think the accident was that bad. This could give the defendant a chance to say that you acquired your injuries from something else after the accident.

Limited Time to File a Bus Accident Claim

By law in New York, you only have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for injuries caused by a bus accident. If the person you are suing is a government agency, your time to file a claim is even more limited, sometimes only allowing you 90 days to file a claim.

Contacting a Bus Accident Attorney to Represent You

Need Help with Your Bus Accident Case in Westchester? Our bus accident lawyers can help.

Dealing with serious injuries from a bus accident can be hard. You need serious legal help on your side. Call (914) 677-1330 today to talk to the experienced Westchester bus accident lawyers at the Law Office of Cesar Zuniga, Esq.

We can also assist with other types of personal injury accidents. 

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