Why You Need a Lawyer for a Bus Accident Case
Bus accidents in Sioux Falls are generally called “mass tort” events. These collisions tend to injure dozens or possibly hundreds of people. Passengers on the bus can sustain life-threatening injuries, but other motorists and even pedestrians can get caught up in the crash. Connect with an experienced law firm if you were injured in a bus accident. Below, we look at four reasons why you benefit from a lawyer’s help.
A Lawyer Can Gather Evidence
It might not be obvious why the accident happened, especially to a bus passenger who is possibly zoned out and not paying attention. Any bus accident might be caused by one or more defendants:
- Negligent bus driver
- Another negligent motorist on the road
- The bus owner, if the bus is defective
- The government, if it is a government bus
While you try to rehab and deal with pain, an experienced lawyer can step up and find the evidence necessary to establish what happened.
Your Attorney Can Analyze Fault
After collecting evidence, a good lawyer will try to reconstruct the accident. That is a critical step to establishing liability, also called “fault.”
You cannot automatically sue a bus company or the government simply because you were hurt riding a bus. For example, a driver might have cut the bus off and caused an immediate crash. The bus company isn’t responsible in that case; the other motorist is to blame.
Fault is often contested. The bus company probably would like nothing better than to get out of having to pay compensation. They might blame someone else and hope you forget to sue them.
Suing the Government is Difficult
Some bus accidents involve Greyhound or charter buses. Bringing a claim against a private company is really no different than suing any other business. However, cases are more complicated if the government owns the bus.
Bringing a legal claim in South Dakota against the government is tricky. Hire a lawyer with experience with the state’s tort claims statute. You want to meet all deadlines and provide appropriate notice to the government.
Serious Injuries Warrant Substantial Compensation
Large buses can cause devastating injuries to other motorists on the road. Even passengers on the bus can be thrown around, since buses lack seat belts. A passenger could break their neck or suffer a serious brain injury when they hit the floor or another seat.
These injuries deserve fair compensation to cover pain, mental distress, medical care, and lost wages. With so much money on the line, bus companies are extra vigorous defending themselves. They might minimize your suffering or claim a driver on the road is really at fault for injuring 50 bus passengers.
Speak with a Sioux Falls Bus Accident Lawyer
Hoy Law is the right firm to tackle any bus accident case. If you were a passenger or another motorist on the road, we can help. Our firm will strive to identify the correct defendant at fault for the crash and negotiate with them for a settlement. Contact our law firm to schedule your free consultation with one of our Sioux Falls bus accident lawyers.
Sources:
sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/21-32-2
sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/21-32-4
sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/21-32-18
