After someone you love has been taken from you in a bus accident, it’s only natural to want to hold someone accountable for your loss.
The Question Is, How Can You Know Who Is Liable for the Accident?
Liability in a wrongful death case always comes down to negligence, or failing to exercise a reasonable amount of care. Parties who may be negligent in your case include:
- Bus driver. In order to hold a bus driver accountable for a wrongful death, you will have to prove that the driver was engaging in risky behavior that led to the accident. This may include talking on a phone, texting, failing to follow speed limits or other traffic laws, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Owner of the bus. If you were hit by a TARC bus, school bus, or a private coach, the owner or operator of the company or route may be held responsible for injuries caused in an accident.
- Bus maintenance company. In some cases, a bus may break down or malfunction due to a lack of maintenance. The maintenance company and the owner may both be held liable for damages.
- Manufacturer of the bus or any malfunctioning parts. If a defect in the buses tires, brakes, steering, or other system failure caused the crash, you may be able to seek a product liability claim against the parts manufacturer.
- Negligent third party. There may be someone else who contributed to the accident, such as another driver or a government agency responsible for cleaning or maintaining the roadway.
The Next Step
After you know who is to blame for the accident, your next step is proving negligence in court. For more information on holding a company responsible for a wrongful death, click the related links on this page or call our offices today to tell us your story.
Related Links:
- Injured TARC Bus Passenger Awarded Millions
- TARC Paid $1.7M in Accident Claims and Settlements in Past Three Years
- TARC Bus Crashes Cause Injury for Several Louisville Residents in 2013