While traveling by bus is statistically much safer than traveling in a car, accidents involving these massive vehicles still occur. Unfortunately, bus collisions tend to cause devastating injuries to passengers. Although injured riders should be entitled to financial restitution, the unique rules applicable to personal injury claims against government entities make recovering compensation challenging.
Fortunately, help is available from our dedicated personal injury attorneys at Roberts Markland LLP, who have a track record of success in cases like yours. If you were injured due to the misconduct of a bus driver, operating company, or another motorist, a Denver bus accident lawyer could provide the guidance and support you need to hold the reckless party accountable for their actions.
Because they are “common carriers” transporting people in exchange for money, bus drivers and their employers owe their passengers a significant duty of care. In addition to following traffic laws and driving reasonably given specific road conditions, bus drivers must ensure the safety of passengers when they board and disembark the vehicle. Employees must also drive carefully to minimize the risk of a boarded passenger getting hurt from a sudden fall.
Any reckless or careless action by a bus driver that results in a passenger getting hurt—whether by running a red light or accelerating too quickly after a stop—could serve as grounds for civil litigation. Likewise, the company or government body that employs a negligent driver may be held vicariously liable for an employee’s misconduct. Finally, in some cases, a commercial vehicle company could be directly responsible for its own negligence—for instance, failing to run background checks on new hires.
In other scenarios, the fault may lie with a third party, like a manufacturer that produced faulty bus parts, a mechanic that provided subpar service, or another driver who crashed into a bus that was being operated responsibly. A hardworking attorney in Denver could provide irreplaceable assistance with figuring out who bears fault for a bus crash and demanding compensation from them on your behalf.
Colorado is somewhat unique among most states in that it imposes artificial limits—or “caps”—on how much compensation any personal injury plaintiff can recover for pain and suffering. As of 2022, the applicable limit in most situations is $642,180 under Colorado Revised Statutes §13-21-102.5. However, it may be increased to $1,284,370 if there is “clear and convincing evidence” that proves their damages justify that amount.
Furthermore, C.R.S. §13-80-101(1)(n) allows up to three years after an accident involving a privately operated bus for injured individuals to file suit, but much shorter deadlines apply for claims against government entities. Working with a diligent lawyer could ensure that your claim follows state regulations and is filed within the appropriate timeframe.
Riding on a bus should be a safe and uneventful experience—and thankfully, in most situations, it is. However, if another person’s negligent actions caused a bus collision that injured you, pursuing civil recovery could be crucial to preserving your long-term interests.
Retaining a Denver bus accident lawyer at Roberts Markland LLP could be an essential first step toward obtaining a beneficial resolution to your claim. Call today to learn more.
