Drunk Driving Bus Accidents in Grapevine
Bus drivers must be alert when operating a commercial bus for a company like Greyhound or a municipal bus for a local government entity or school district. Unfortunately, sometimes bus drivers get behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol or other intoxicating substances, causing disasters for themselves, their passengers, and other people on the road.
Drunk driving bus accidents in Grapevine can be the basis for civil litigation against drunk drivers, their employers, and other responsible parties. When you are hurt in a wreck of this nature, enlist the help of a skilled bus accident lawyer who could help you fight for the fair compensation you deserve.
Drunk Driving Laws for Grapevine Bus Drivers
Under Texas law, it is illegal for drivers to operate a motor vehicle if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC)—a marker of how much alcohol is in their body and potentially impairing their physical or cognitive function—equals or exceeds 0.08 percent. However, for people who hold commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) operating commercial vehicles, the legal BAC limit is 0.04 percent.
Knowing these limits is important since bus drivers in Texas are considered “commercial drivers” under DUI laws. Therefore, the standards for what constitutes “drunk driving” are much lower for bus collisions in Grapevine than for other car accidents. Furthermore, even when the bus driver did not exceed the legal limit or was not charged with DUI after a crash, showing that they were impaired in some other way—by a controlled substance, a prescription medication, or even by simple fatigue—could justify a civil claim.
Who Is at Fault for a Drunk Driving Bus Crash?
It may seem like common sense to assume that a bus driver who chooses to drive their bus while intoxicated is the only person to blame for the accident and subsequent injuries they cause. However, while it is true that driving a commercial vehicle while drunk certainly qualifies as legally actionable negligence, it is not true that the drunk bus driver is the only person that might bear responsibility for the victim’s injuries.
Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, it is often possible to hold the company that employed the drunk bus driver vicariously liable for their employee’s misconduct. In fact, sometimes public transportation accidents in Grapevine stem partially or even primarily from negligence by a bus company or government entity—for instance, when the company knowingly hires someone with a history of previous DUI convictions or fails to do any kind of background check on a driver before hiring them.
Talk to a Hardworking Attorney in Grapevine About a Drunk Driving Bus Accident Claim
Drunk drivers put everyone around them on the road at risk. However, intoxicated public transportation operators go one step further, putting their passengers in danger of serious long-term injuries. When someone causes you harm by operating a bus under the influence of alcohol or drugs, taking legal action against them and their employer is vital to protecting your long-term best interests.
A seasoned bus accident lawyer could be an irreplaceable ally throughout a claim built around a drunk driving bus accident in Grapevine. Call today to schedule a meeting and begin filing your damages claim for damages related to your injury.