While buses perform a vital service to our communities, when they are not operated with care, serious collisions can happen. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 579 collisions involving buses in 2018, resulting in two deaths and 221 injuries.
If you or a loved one was harmed in a collision involving a bus in Woodbridge, then a Woodbridge bus accident lawyer can review your case and help you seek the compensation that you deserve. Whether you suffered injuries as a bus rider, motorist, pedestrian, or bicyclist, you have legal options.
Call the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC today at (571) 229-1800 to find out more about how our team will fight for you after a Woodbridge bus accident.
Buses Outweigh Smaller Vehicles
The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy explains that buses, whether they are school buses or otherwise, generally outweigh smaller vehicles by a wide margin. The organization notes that buses may weigh as much as 33,000 pounds, while small passenger vehicles generally weigh less than 6,000 pounds.
The size and weight of larger vehicles, like buses, may present several challenges to its drivers.
Buses may:
- Be more difficult to control in general
- Be more prone to rolling over or skidding on slick roadways
- Be more difficult to stop when an accident is imminent
- Be more difficult to maneuver in a manner that might avoid a collision, such as swerving
- Have a greater surface area, which may increase its risk of being involved in an accident
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles explains that bus drivers are required to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Bus drivers need specialized training that allows them to safely operate these large vehicles. These motorists must act with care at all times to ensure the safety of themselves, their passengers, and other road users.
Determining Liability for Your Woodbridge Bus Accident Case
Your Woodbridge bus accident lawyer will need to evaluate your case to determine who can be held accountable for the cost of your collision-related expenses. They will review the actions of the bus driver to determine how they caused your accident. Bus operators who fail to drive with care may be liable for the injuries and deaths that they cause.
Some possible ways that a bus driver may have violated their duty of care include:
- Speeding, especially on busy streets
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving too closely behind other vehicles
- Failing to maintain their position in a lane
- Making dangerous merges or turns
- Running stop signs or red lights
- Using a cell phone while driving
- Employing aggressive driving maneuvers
However, a bus driver may not be the only liable party in your case. A collision could be caused by factors such as a defect in the bus itself, the foreseeable malfunction of old parts, or poor road conditions.
Multiple parties could be responsible for the damages caused by a bus accident, and a Woodbridge bus accident lawyer can help you better understand liability as it relates to your case. Call the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC today at (571) 229-1800 for a free consultation.
The Bus Driver’s Employer Could Be Liable for Your Expenses
We mentioned above that the bus driver may not be the only liable party for your damages. Per the legal principle respondeat superior, the bus driver’s employer could be held accountable for the actions of their employee, per the Legal Information Institute (LII). The bus driver could also share accountability for your damages if they themselves failed to uphold their duty of care.
This could involve:
- Failing to maintain a safe fleet of buses
- Failing to vet drivers before employing them
- Failing to regularly drug test employees
- Failing to take administrative action when necessary
Your lawyer will determine who the parties responsible for your losses are. You can call the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC to learn more.
Woodbridge Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me 571-229-1800
Establishing Negligence for Your Bus Accident Case
When two passenger vehicles collide, liability usually rests on the driver who caused the collision. These cases can be fairly straightforward because the drivers in these collisions usually own their cars. However, when it comes to bus accidents, the driver of the bus may not be the owner of the vehicle. This can complicate matters when establishing negligence and liability.
The American Bar Association (ABA) lists the standards of negligence for bus accident cases. To recover compensation, if a bus driver caused your injuries, your lawyer may be able to hold them financially accountable under the legal principle of negligence. Yet, if a bus’s faulty vehicular component caused your accident, your lawyer may be able to hold the bus’s manufacturer responsible under the principle of strict liability.
Our law firm understands that you may have many reservations about working with a personal injury lawyer. If you decide to represent yourself, sorting through issues of fault and liability will fall to you. However, when you work with a Woodbridge bus accident lawyer, they can handle your legal obligations on your behalf. You can call the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC to learn more.
A Lawyer Will Guide Your Case to the Finish Line
Whether you choose to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit, a lawyer will handle your case from start to finish.
Some of the specific services that your lawyer may perform for you include:
- Gathering evidence
- Speaking with witnesses
- Consulting with third-party field experts regarding your case
- Calculating the value of your losses
- Filing all necessary paperwork
- Making in-court appearances, if required
- Documenting your injuries
- Handling all lawsuit-related correspondence
A lawyer will also handle a vital aspect of your case: defending your rights. They will seek the best possible outcome for you or a loved one who was injured or killed in a bus accident.
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Call the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC Today
The decision to hire a Woodbridge bus accident lawyer could serve your interests in many ways. Call the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC today at for (571) 229-1800 additional details about securing legal representation.
Call or Text 571-229-1800 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation form