After a bus accident in Detroit, it can be hard knowing who to hold accountable. But you deserve full compensation from the liable party so you can focus on recovery.
A reputable Detroit bus accident lawyer at Davis Injury Lawyers could help you get the most out of your insurance and civil claims. Contact our team, and we can explain how much your motor vehicle accident claim could be worth and who is responsible for your damages.
How Common Are Bus Accidents in Michigan?
In 2021, Michigan truck and bus accidents increased by 32%, with over 120 fatal crashes. That same year, there were nearly 800 school bus accidents in Michigan.
These types of accidents can be caused by any number of factors. For example, if a bus driver is distracted, drowsy, or otherwise negligently operating the bus, they could be held partially or fully responsible for an accident.
Other common causes of bus accidents in Detroit include:
- Making turns too wide
- Failure to drive safely in inclement weather
- Failure to stop or yield
- Following other vehicles too closely
- Defective or malfunctioning plus parts
- Driving the bus under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Hiring inexperienced or improperly trained bus drivers
- Failure to check blind spots
Types of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents in Detroit can take many forms. In order to obtain the compensation you are entitled to, your attorney will need to carefully evaluate the type of bus accident you were involved in. This could help to determine who is ultimately responsible for causing your bus accident injuries and resulting damages.
Some examples of the types of bus accidents you could be involved in include:
- School bus accidents
- Charter bus accidents
- Indian Trails bus accidents
- SMART bus accidents
- Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) bus accidents
- Greyhound accidents
- Commercial truck/bus accidents
- Sightseeing tour bus accidents
These are only some of the types of bus accidents you could have been injured in. If you were involved in a different kind of bus accident not listed above, you may still have grounds for legal action.
However, for your claim to be successful, your lawyer will need to prove that another party is at fault for the crash and your subsequent injuries.
What Is the Common Carrier Liability Law?
A common carrier is any business or individual that is licensed to transport passengers. The state of Michigan has common carrier liability laws in place that are designed to ensure common carriers are protecting the safety of their passengers.
Some of the duties common carriers must follow under these laws include:
- Taking necessary security precautions
- Ensuring the entries and exits of the bus are well-lit, safe, and unobstructed
- Providing adequate training for new bus drivers
- Ensuring buses receive the necessary maintenance
- Ensuring bus drivers pass required background checks and other hiring qualifications
Generally, bus companies can be held accountable if they fail to ensure that their drivers follow common carrier liability laws. This is in addition to the liability of the bus driver, who may be responsible for causing the accident.
In many bus accident claims, multiple parties share fault. Fortunately, this increases the likelihood that you can recover your damages in full.
Who’s Liable for a Bus Accident?
Without having reviewed the circumstances of your bus accident claim, it is difficult to determine who is responsible for causing your damages. In addition to the bus driver being held accountable for their negligence, bus companies can be responsible for the actions of their drivers.
However, bus companies can also be held accountable when there are general safety or repair issues with the bus or if they hire an unqualified driver. The owner of the bus could be liable for your damages if they neglected to make necessary repairs, used faulty vehicle parts, or otherwise allowed the bus to be poorly maintained.
Your bus accident lawyer in Detroit will be responsible for carefully reviewing the evidence in your case to ensure all liable parties are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. This way, you can maximize the compensation you are awarded in your insurance and civil claims.
What Can You Recover in a Bus Accident Claim?
You have the right to be repaid for all your damages when someone else is to blame for your injuries. When you have been injured in a bus accident in Detroit, you have the right to compensation for a variety of losses, some of which could include:
- Your loss of income and future earnings
- Diminished quality of life
- Fear and apprehension
- Shock and anticipation
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Disfigurement or disabling injuries
- Inconvenience and embarrassment
- Personal property damages and vehicle repairs
- Total costs of your medical expenses and future care
If you lose a loved one to a bus accident, you may have the opportunity to move forward with a wrongful death claim against the liable party.
Here, the decedent’s surviving family members may be entitled to certain damages as well, including coverage of the decedent’s funeral and burial expenses, the decedent’s medical expenses, and the surviving family member’s loss of inheritance, grief, emotional distress, and loss of companionship, love, society, protection, and support.
Contact a Bus Accident Lawyer in Detroit for Help Today
When you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of pursuing your bus accident claim, having an experienced legal advocate on your side could make all the difference.
Reach out to a dedicated Detroit bus accident lawyer at Davis Injury Lawyers for legal support when you need it most. Fill out our convenient contact form or call our office to schedule your free consultation as soon as today.