Mount Dora is at the center of popular busing routes to cities and attractions, such as Ocala National Forest, amusement parks, wildlife reserves, Blue Spring State Park, and other destinations. While convenient, this transportation method can lead to serious accidents because of its size and number of passengers.
Your injuries could create a claim for compensation from a liable bus driver and other at-fault parties. The Umansky Law Firm is proud of the work our Mount Dora bus accidents lawyers do to help people pursue financial recovery from those responsible for a personal injury. Learn more about claims for bus accidents and the Florida laws that could impact your right to recovery.
Several driving behaviors can cause or contribute to a bus accident, such as the following:
Aside from these driver behaviors, other contributing factors include poor road conditions, obstructed views, and missing road signs. Identifying the cause(s) of your bus accident is a key step in determining who could have liability for your injury.
The liability for injuries from a bus accident often begin with the drivers involved in the collision. This could be a negligent bus driver or the driver of another passenger vehicle. Florida requires a determination of negligence to hold another party responsible for your injuries, which means the party did not exercise reasonable care in their actions and that misconduct was a direct cause of the bus accident. Third-party liability could also extend to the bus driver’s employer if the accident occurred in the scope of employment.
The fault for a bus accident can sometimes belong to multiple parties, including an injured plaintiff seeking a claim for compensation. In these cases, the state’s rules of contribution and comparative fault under Sections 768.31 and 768.81may come into play. These rules generally limit a person’s liability to their pro rata percentage of fault for the bus accident, unless the injury was the result of intentional misconduct.
If you have a percentage of fault assigned to you for the cause of your injury in a bus accident, this could reduce your compensation by that amount, and possibly prevent recovery altogether if fault is greater than 50 percent.
The exact steps to take after a bus accident can vary from case to case, but may include the following actions. First, you should get to safe location to avoid additional injury from a subsequent collision and contact first responders from the Mount Dora Police Department. While waiting for emergency responders, gather as much information as possible, including photos, videos, and the contact and insurance information of the involved drivers.
You can also look for license information and the names of others who may be able to act as a witness about the details of the accident. Then, seek medical evaluation and treatment for any injuries, which is important for documenting their connection to the bus accident.
Consider a free consultation with our Mount Dora bus accident lawyers to discuss your potential right to recover compensation for your injuries. We help clients gather valuable evidence to support their claims and manage key aspects of the legal process, including timely filing of a lawsuit. Florida has a strict two-year deadline for filing a motor vehicle accident claim as of March 24, 2023. Schedule your consultation as soon as possible to determine the filing deadline for your claim and to develop a strategy for financial recovery.
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