Students on spring break injured in bus accident
Recently a group of students were coming home from a spring break trip when the charter bus they were on crashed in Long Island, New York on the Southern State Parkway. The bus crashed into an overpass because it was too tall. The bus driver was unaware of the height restrictions for the Southern State Parkway. However, signs were posted as vehicles enter the Southern State Parkway which indicated the height restrictions. Six passengers were seriously injured and 37 others sustained only minor injuries.
Ice hockey team injured in bus accident
A Canadian junior ice hockey team was involved in a horrific bus crash that killed 15 people. The team, the Humboldt Broncos, were headed to the town of Nipawin for a playoff game when they collided with a tractor-trailer. Of the fourteen people who were injured, three were in critical condition. The head coach and several players were among the fatalities.
Serving our neighbors in Joplin, Missouri
When someone is injured or killed in a bus accident, the victim and the victim’s family need to understand their legal rights. The attorneys at the Cottrell Law Office have extensive experience representing victims of bus accidents and are ready to perform a thorough analysis of the legal issues in order to provide you with the best advice on how to proceed.
Who is liable in a bus accident?
In most bus accident cases, the owner and operator of the bus is the most likely party to be held liable. When buses are chartered, there is a company that provides the bus and the driver for the trip. The driver is typically an employee of the bus company so the company is responsible for the driver’s actions, including his or her negligence. When the driver is found to be negligent in operating the bus, the theory of respondeat superior is used to hold the company liable for the actions of its agents and employees.
Potential liability in the Southern State Parkway accident
An example of how liability can be determined can be seen in the Southern State Parkway bus accident. The bus driver had a duty to we aware of the height restrictions for the roadways on which he operated the bus. The fact that there were signs posted informing drivers of the restriction before they entered that particular roadway makes the bus driver’s negligence easier to prove. So, the bus company that employed the bus driver would be responsible for his negligence and the resulting injuries.
How does liability insurance affect liability in bus accidents?
Another factor that our Joplin personal injury lawyer will consider in handling your case is the existence of liability insurance. Bus companies typically have insurance policies that cover bus accidents. However, not every policy will have sufficient coverage for the damages sustained by all of the victims, particularly if there were numerous injuries or fatalities. For that reason, some personal injury victims may be forced to accept only a portion of their actual damages because there isn’t enough insurance to cover everything. Our Joplin personal injury lawyer, like others who represent bus accident victims, knows that this is always a possibility.
What type of damages can you expect in a bus accident?
The purpose of a damages award in a personal injury case is to make the victim “whole.” This basically means compensating the victim for everything was lost as a result of the accident or injury. The only way to accomplish that is through a monetary award. The amount of compensation you may recover after a car accident depends on the type of damages you suffered. Each claim is different, both factually and with regard to which laws apply to your claim. The most important element used in determining the value of a car accident claim is the nature and seriousness of your injuries.
If you have questions regarding bus accidents or any other personal injury matters in Arkansas or Missouri, please contact the Cottrell Law Office for a free consultation. You can contact us either online or by calling us toll-free at (888) 433-4861.
Wesley Cottrell
Wes Cottrell earned his B.A. from Pittsburg State University in 1981 and his J.D. from the Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas in 1985. He was admitted to practice law in Kansas in 1986, in Missouri in 1987, in Arkansas in 1989, and Oklahoma in 1993. He is licensed to practice law in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, eastern Arkansas, western Arkansas, and western Missouri. He was Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Crawford County, Kansas from 1987-1989.
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