Thousands of Dallas residents rely on Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to get to their destinations each day, and thousands more share the roads with DART buses, school buses, and other types of buses. These vehicles are useful for transporting groups of people, but they are unwieldy, have large blind spots, are prone to rollovers, and can be deadly in a collision. Those involved in bus collisions often sustain severe injuries.
If an accident involving a bus has injured you or a loved one, you could seek monetary damages to compensate for your losses. You should contact a Dallas personal injury lawyer as soon as possible because there is a limited time to file a claim, and the clock begins ticking on the day of the accident. At The Texas Law Dog, our Dallas bus accident lawyer does not just bark, we bite!
Why Bus Accidents Happen in Dallas
Bus accidents occur on many of Dallas’ roadways due to the negligence of the driver, the bus company, or even the city in situations where a government organization operates the vehicle. These vehicles are large, and they have the potential to cause victims to suffer significant and serious injuries in the blink of an eye. Some of the most common causes of Dallas bus accidents that we see include the following:
- Bus drivers who are distracted by too many responsibilities behind the wheel
- Drivers who are impaired and not able to operate a bus in a safe manner
- Fatigued drivers dozing off behind the wheel
- Reckless actions by buses and others on the roadway, including speeding, illegal lane changes, and aggressive driving
- Tailgating or following a bus too closely
- Right-hand turns in which the driver fails to provide the right of way to the victim
- Mechanical failures and breakdowns that cause sudden accidents
- Actions of others on the bus with you are due to a lack of security
- Poorly maintained buses with lighting or other interior failures
Every accident that occurs warrants an investigation, as it can pose a significant risk of long-term injury and losses that can alter your life. If you were a pedestrian, bike rider, or driver in another vehicle struck by a bus, do not settle your case. Instead, call our Dallas school bus accident lawyer for guidance.
Failure to Meet Standard of Care
If the occupant of another vehicle, a cyclist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian, suffers an injury in a collision or mishap with a bus, the injured person and their attorney must prove that someone was negligent. Showing negligence requires a plaintiff to establish the following:
- Someone had a duty to the plaintiff
- They breached that duty
- The breach contributed to an accident or incident
- The plaintiff was injured in the accident or incident
Bus accident claims are complicated because there are often multiple, potentially negligent, responsible parties. These could include the bus driver and their employer, the bus owner, the bus maintenance company, the manufacturer of any defective vehicle parts, the government unit responsible for maintaining the road, other vehicle operators, and even disruptive bus passengers. A lawyer could investigate the circumstances surrounding a bus accident to identify all the parties who might have contributed to the accident and could be liable to the plaintiff.
Dallas Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Injured Bus Passengers’ Claims
Injured bus passengers have an easier time getting damages from bus companies. The Court of Appeals of Texas has affirmed that buses are common carriers and must meet enhanced standards of care to protect their passengers.
The bus company and its driver must be very cautious, prudent, and competent. If someone is injured while a passenger on a bus, they will be entitled to damages if they can demonstrate a failure to meet this high standard. This is easier than showing that the bus company or its driver was negligent.
Dealing With Governmental Entities
There are complications for a plaintiff seeking damages when the state of Texas, the city of Dallas, or another local government is a potentially liable party. This might happen if the accident involved a bus owned or operated by a government, or if road conditions or signage are potential contributors to the accident.
Although a plaintiff usually has two years from the date of the accident to bring a lawsuit, the Texas Code of Civil Procedure and Remedies §101.101 requires plaintiffs to notify government units—like cities, counties, or the state—within six months of the accident if they intend to claim damages from the governmental entity. Seeking help from a bus accident lawyer soon after a bus accident could help ensure that all potentially liable governments receive the appropriate notice in a timely manner.
The law limits the amount of damages a unit of government must pay. It caps the liability of the state and the city of Dallas at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per incident. For other local governments, the limit of liability is $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident.
How Our Bus Accident Lawyer in Dallas Can Help You with Your Case
The complexities of bus accidents make it critical for victims to seek legal representation as soon as possible. These accidents have specific requirements based on who owns and operates the bus system, and carry the potential for sizable losses from the accident. With the guidance of our legal team, we can be sure you know what those rules are, as well as what steps you can take to protect your rights. Some of the ways our legal team at The Texas Law Dog can guide you include:
- Gathering evidence. In a bus accident, not all of the evidence you need to prove negligence may be readily available. Our attorneys know how to pursue bus logs, driver records, and other data that could be useful in building a case for you.
- Document all of your losses. Being aggressive about outlining all of your losses is one of the ways our legal team guides you. It is very common for victims to be unaware of the full extent of their economic and non-economic damages, which leaves valuable compensation owed to them unclaimed.
- Negotiate with fierceness. Our experience serving the Dallas area means we know the courts, the prosecutors, and the insurance adjusters. We also know how to negotiate to seek full and fair compensation for our clients.
- Filing a lawsuit. In situations where it becomes necessary and possible, expect us to file a bus accident lawsuit against the at-fault party. That allows us to push the insurance companies to take action.
- Go to court. If they still will not settle your case fairly, expect our bus accident attorney in Dallas to pursue a full trial, remaining by your side throughout the legal process and demonstrating your right to compensation.
With years of experience fighting for our clients in the Dallas area against negligent drivers, our legal team can be your ally in this challenging and complex type of case. If you have injuries, do not settle until you speak to us about those rights. A Dallas drunk driving bus accident lawyer is just a call away.
Seek Legal Guidance if Your Loved One Died
In situations where your family member lost their life due to the negligence of a bus driver, bus company, or other party, arm yourself with a skilled wrongful death attorney from our firm. Let us go to work building a case for you that comprehensively gets justice for your family member and supports your recovery of damages, such as:
- Final medical costs
- Burial and funeral expenses
- Pain and suffering prior to death
- Loss of financial support if you are a dependent
- Loss of companionship
- Emotional trauma
There are many ways that our legal team can hold those who caused the death of your loved one accountable, and we will pursue that to the full extent of the law. Do not settle your case just yet, but instead, speak to our lawyer about your legal rights. We would be happy to offer you a free consultation.
Get Help From an Experienced Dallas Bus Accident Attorney
Identifying potential defendants in a bus accident and asserting a plaintiff’s right to compensation is a difficult job that requires specific experience. A victim should never attempt to negotiate on their own—that is an invitation for savvy defense lawyers to evade their clients’ responsibilities toward the plaintiff.
Working with a skilled Dallas bus accident attorney helps ensure that the defendants take your claim seriously and are held accountable. Call today to speak with a member of our team at The Texas Law Dog about your bus accident injuries.
