Traveling by bus is typically straightforward, but that does not mean bus drivers never get into serious accidents resulting in severe physical injuries. It can even happen through a driver’s own negligence. Unfortunately, your options for demanding financial compensation after an incident like this may be a bit limited depending on who owns and operates the bus that was involved.
Whether you want to pursue restitution from a private bus company or a public transit authority like LYNX, guidance from a Winter Garden bus accident lawyer could be vital to achieving a positive case resolution. From establishing fault for specific losses, to ensuring you can file a strong claim within applicable filing time limits, a dedicated personal injury attorney’s support could have a huge impact on the outcome of your legal proceedings.
As “common carriers,” bus drivers and operating entities have a legal “duty” to drive safely and keep with state and local traffic laws, and also to ensure their operation is safe at all times for everyone involved. If a bus driver injures a boarding passenger by starting too quickly while that passenger is trying to find a seat, that driver could be considered negligent and liable for ensuing damages in the same way they could if they caused harm by getting into a traffic collision.
Recoverable losses in either type of scenario could include both economic and non-economic forms of harm, as well as past and future damages relative to when the injured party first files their claim. Specific losses that often factor into cases like this include:
As a Winter Garden bus crash attorney could explain, state law caps recoverable compensation in cases against government entities at $200,000 per plaintiff and $300,000 per accident, and furthermore gives Florida the legal standing to appeal any civil court ruling made against them.
Another way in which bus accident lawsuits can change based on who the defendants are is in how long injured people are given to start their legal proceedings in the first time. For claims against private individuals and/or businesses, Florida Statutes § 95.11 sets the same four-year filing period—generally beginning when the injury first occurred—for bus accident litigation as it does for most other personal injury cases.
However, if the defendant is a government employee or agency responsible for running a public transit service (such as the LYNX system), the deadline for notifying the agency of a planned claim or a lawsuit is usually three years after the incident occurred. Help from a bus accident lawyer in Winter Garden could be key to building a strong and comprehensive case within the time limits.
Achieving a positive result from a personal injury case built around a bus crash can be hard for anyone to manage by themselves, especially someone dealing with serious physical, personal, and financial losses. Representation from legal counsel could be important to getting paid fairly for your damages.
A conversation with a Winter Garden bus accident lawyer could offer you clarity and confidence about your recovery options. Call today to schedule a meeting with The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense and Injury Attorneys.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
