Upper Marlboro Bus Accident Lawyer
As an efficient means of public transportation, buses are essential. But, if a common carrier is in a wreck, it can be perilous. If you were hurt while riding on a bus or in a collision with one, an accomplished personal injury attorney could help you seek compensation for your injuries.
Pursuing a public transit crash claim could be complicated because more than one party’s negligence might have caused the accident. An Upper Marlboro bus accident lawyer could help you obtain appropriate compensation for your losses.
Damages in Public Transit Collisions
There are two types of losses Roger Gelb could help an injured person demand compensation for following a common carrier crash: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages in a bus collision case compensate an injured party for their documented losses. These include lost income, cost of medical care, rehabilitation services, and other tangible expenses associated with the injury. These damages also might cover future medical outlays and diminished earning capacity.
Non-Economic Damages
A plaintiff also could collect non-economic damages that include payments for the impact an injury had or has on their quality of life. Non-economic damages could consist of disfigurement, disability, physical pain, lost enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and other subjective impacts of the injury.
An Upper Marlboro attorney at Gelb & Gelb could advise someone on what types of damages they might be able to file for in their particular bus wreck case.
Negligence in Upper Marlboro Bus Crashes
Several different parties could be responsible for a public transit accident. Besides the driver, common carrier companies and manufacturers may be liable depending on the circumstances of the wreck.
Driver error is a frequent contributor to bus accidents. If an injured person could prove that a bus driver’s conduct was a factor in the crash, the driver and their employer could be liable. An employer could also be held accountable if they negligently hire someone, provide inadequate training, and have incompetent supervision. A repair shop could be responsible if shoddy maintenance contributes to the collision.
Using Evidence to Determine Fault
A common carrier collision attorney in Upper Marlboro could investigate a crash to identify potential instances of negligence. The investigation might include reviewing the following:
- Police reports
- Bus driver employment records
- Maintenance logs
- Surveillance camera footage
- Black box data
- Commissioning reports from accident reconstruction experts
Reaching out to a skilled attorney could make a difference in your bus accident case. The legal team at Gelb & Gelb understands what evidence to look for and how to use it in someone’s case.
Deadlines for Filing Common Carrier Accident Claims
In most personal injury cases, a claimant has three years to file a lawsuit seeking damages. However, private, state-owned, and county-owned companies have different filing deadline rules.
If a private company owns the bus, the three-year statute of limitations applies in lawsuits against them. However, because the state or a local government owns many buses, their drivers could be considered public employees. In such cases, special rules apply that shorten a claimant’s time to act.
If the state owns the bus or employs its driver, a plaintiff must file a notice of claim within one year of their injury. If a claimant was injured by a common carrier or owned by the county, they must file a notice of claim within six months of their injury.
A Gelb & Gelb attorney in Upper Marlboro could investigate a public transit crash to identify all parties at fault. If the state or a local government is liable, a skilled legal team could ensure compliance with the notice of claim requirements and preserve the plaintiff’s right to sue the government.
Contact an Upper Marlboro Bus Accident Attorney Today
The complexities of a public transit collision could challenge an attorney unfamiliar with investigating and pursuing these cases. You should seek a seasoned Upper Marlboro bus accident lawyer to seek compensation for your injuries.
Delaying could prevent you from pursuing your claim altogether. To ensure you get your opportunity to file for compensation, contact our office as soon as possible.