Public transport is typically an easy and cost-effective way to get around. Whether you’re travelling around town or heading off on a long journey, buses can be an environmentally friendly and simple way to reach your destination.
Of course, any type of vehicle can be involved in a road traffic collision, which means that bus accidents do occur from time to time. If you’ve been caught up in this type of incident, you’ll need to know who is liable for the accident. With this in mind, take a look at the range of people and organizations that can be held responsible for bus accidents:
1. Bus Companies
As you might expect, a bus company can be held accountable for an accident if their driver acts inappropriately on the road. If they aren’t paying attention to other road users or they breach safety regulations, for example, they could inadvertently cause a serious accident to occur.
Alternatively, if a bus company doesn’t undertake regular maintenance on their vehicles and this causes or contributes to an accident, they could be held legally responsible for the incident. In such cases, you may be able to make a compensation claim against them.
When buses are run by a local authority or government department, as opposed to a private company, they can also be held legally responsible for accidents that occur due to driver error or the absence of maintenance.
2. Other Road Users
If another road user, such as a driver or motorcyclist, is speeding, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or simply isn’t adhering to the rules of the road, they could cause a collision to occur. If so, anyone who is hurt or injured because of their conduct could take legal action against them, and this includes bus passengers.
3. Vehicle Manufacturers
Vehicles undertake various safety tests during the production process so that they’re safe for use. There are times, however, when a manufacturing or design fault isn’t identified during or prior to production. This means that the risk of an accident could be increased if a vehicle isn’t designed safely or manufactured appropriately.
When this happens, the vehicle manufacturer can be held accountable for their error, even if it wasn’t intentional. Due to this, it may be necessary to take legal action against the bus manufacturing company if you’ve been hurt due to a bus accident that was caused by a design or production fault.
Claiming Compensation After a Bus Accident
When you make a claim for compensation after any type of road accident, it’s vital to determine who is responsible for the incident so that liability can be apportioned. This applies to bus accidents too, so may need investigation reports, witness statements or even CCTV evidence to support your claim.
When you work with a personal injury lawyer, however, they’ll handle these aspects of your claim for you. In addition to this, your legal team will be able to explain what type of compensation you’re able to obtain following a bus accident and estimate how long the process is likely to take.
Dealing with the aftermath of a bus accident can be extremely difficult and handling a claim alone can make it more complex. With help from an experienced attorney, however, you can ensure you have the professional support you need as you claim the compensation you deserve.