Many people in Tennessee take public transportation to get to work or to run errands. The drivers of these buses have a duty to protect all people that they may encounter. This includes both the passengers inside these vehicles as well as other travelers on the road. Poor driving or improper maintenance that contribute to an accident may leave a driver and their employer liable for any resulting losses.
A Memphis bus accident lawyer could assist you hold the responsible party financial liable. A well-practiced attorney at Reaves Law Firm could help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and any reduction in your quality of life.
Bus drivers and the companies that own the vehicles have a strict duty under the law. They must take appropriate steps to protect the well-being of their passengers as well as any other person that may cross paths with the vehicle.
This means bus drivers must follow the rules of the road, including speed limits, stop signs, and prohibitions against texting while behind the wheel. If a bus driver receives a ticket after an accident, this is a powerful indicator that the driver was to blame for the collision.
The second obligation is to operate the vehicle in a responsible manner. This includes ensuring that a driver is fit for duty as well as that driver keeping their attention on the road. A Memphis attorney could perform a full investigation into the causes of the bus crash.
Finally, bus owners must ensure that their vehicles receive proper maintenance and upkeep. Collisions caused by faulty brakes, leaking fluids, or any other mechanical failure may mean that the bus owner is liable for the resulting injuries.
Bus crashes pose a major hazard to all people involved. For other drivers, they may endure broken bones, concussions, separated joints, and other injuries typical of car accidents. These events may also impact their emotional well-being and ability to return to work. Injured motorists can demand that bus drivers, insurance companies, and bus owners provide full payments to cover all their losses.
In addition, the passengers within these public transportation vehicles may also suffer harsh injuries. Because these vehicles often lack seatbelts, and some passengers remain standing throughout their trips, even seemingly minor incidents can result in a passenger hitting their head or being thrown around the interior of the cabin. Injured passengers also have the right to demand appropriate compensation from liable parties.
Whether an injured motorist or passenger, all potential claimants must follow the statute of limitations. This is a legal time limit that determines how long after a bus accident people have to demand payments for their losses. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 28-3-104, this time limit may be as short as one year from the date of the collision. People injured in a bus crash in Memphis should reach out to a local attorney as soon as possible.
Bus drivers and their employers have a duty to protect others while operating their vehicles. This extends to other drivers, pedestrians, and the passengers within the buses themselves. Failures to provide this protection through violations of traffic laws, poor maintenance practices, or simple carelessness mean that these parties are responsible for providing appropriate compensation to all affected people.
A Memphis bus accident lawyer wants to help you to collect these payments. Reach out today to schedule a consultation with our trustworthy team at the Reaves Law Firm.
