Washington Bus Accident Lawyer - Lawyers Helping Injured Victims of Bus Accidents

Buses present a diverse offering in terms of how they operate within the logistical infrastructure of Washington. There are many who will use commercial bus lines for long trips, for nightly excursions and for day trips and tours. There are also hundreds of thousands of children at any given time who depend on public school buses to get to and from school as well as city buses that are an option for commuters.

All of these choices provide many benefits to the people of Washington, but there are also negatives, and the leading example of this is danger. Buses are enormous vehicles that often share the road with smaller cars and can be filled with loud children, and all of this leads to bus accidents. Below is a look at the relevant statistics regarding bus accidents in Washington, followed by a look at how liability works for those who are injured.

Washington Bus Accident Statistics

Below is an overview of the bus accident statistics in Washington for the year 2007 that have been compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA):
  • Buses involved in fatal crashes - 7
  • Fatalities from bus crashes - 7
  • Buses involved in non-fatal crashes - 137
  • Buses involved in injury crashes - 24
  • Injuries from bus crashes - 33
  • Buses involved in tow-away crashes - 113
The statistics above are easy to decipher, in that while bus accidents are somewhat rare in a relative sense, when they do occur it leaves behind a wake of devastation given their size and the force that they create at impact.

Liability for Bus Accidents in Washington

When a bus accident occurs in Washington, those who are injured often have questions regarding the identity of the parties who are or who should be liable. This is not always an obvious answer, as there are layers of employment and insurance coverage that need to be properly analyzed before the proper defendants can be named.

Below is a look at the defendants who could be liable for a bus accident in Washington:
  • The bus company - The carrier is clearly the most obvious first guess when it comes to liability for a bus accident, but the company is not always responsible for injuries suffered. For instance, if a bus was chartered by an independent contractor who drove the group and got into an accident, it's possible that the driver alone and his or her insurance company could be named as the defendants. However, more often than not, the bus company will be named in the lawsuit.

  • The bus driver - As mentioned above, there are situations in which the driver could be responsible exclusive of the company name on the side of the bus. Aside from the independent contractor issue previously mentioned, the driver could also be responsible if his or her actions that led to the bus accident were so negligent as to constitute recklessness.

  • Drivers of other vehicles - Not every bus that gets into an accident is completely at fault for the injuries that occur. If other drivers cause an accident, then they would also be viable defendants for any lawsuits that followed the incident.

  • Bus manufacturer - If a bus gets into an accident because of a defect in a part that's a direct cause of that accident, it's possible that the manufacturer of that bus could be rightfully named as a defendant. If the defect was of a nature that no one could have reasonably discovered its presence until it was too late, then responsibility could reasonably fall on the entity that was responsible for that defect.

Seattle Bus Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you love has been injured in a bus accident in Washington, you need to take immediate action. Bringing a legal claim against a bus company and in the aftermath of a terrible accident can be a very complicated matter. You need to seek the help of a bus accident lawyer who has the experience necessary to sort out all of the facts and theories so that your claim can proceed efficiently and successfully.

If you would like to find out if pursuing a Washington bus accident claim is a viable option, gather as much of the following documentation as possible:
  • Bus ticket
  • Medical records
  • Medical bills
  • Proof of lost income
  • Insurance records
You should also gather any other information you feel could make your initial consultation more effective. However, do not hesitate to schedule a free initial consultation with Phillips Webster today to get this process started, as the firm will be able to find these documents for you should you decide to retain an attorney from the firm. Contact the attorneys and get this process started today.
 



1-800-ABOGADO

Phillips Webster es la firma de abogados de Washington y nuetros abogados experimentados lo pueden ayudar.   Si usted se ha lastimado en un accidente,  si necesita declararse en bancarrota o necesita que le ayudemos a negociar su deudas, podemos ayudarlo.

Hablemos Españo; 1-800-226-4236

 

Seattle Accident News

 

Submit your request for a FREE evaluation by phone, no office visit required.

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Email:

* Phone:

Comments:

*Accept Terms


*Denotes Required Field


Woodinville Law Office
13303 NE 175th Street
Woodinville, Washington 98072

Renton Law Office:
 900 S W 16th St Suite 300 | Renton, Washington 98057

Seattle Law Office
Washington Mutual Tower
1201 3rd Ave. Ste. 3080
Seattle, Washington 98101