When buses strike pedestrians, cyclists, or other motorists, the resulting injuries can be life-altering. These enormous vehicles outweigh almost everything else on the roadway, and the force they generate upon impact is catastrophic. If you are hurt in a crash, you could be entitled to compensation.
Recovering an award starts with determining who was responsible for the crash. Unfortunately, the question of liability in Albuquerque bus accident cases is not always simple. Let a skilled bus crash attorney investigate the incident and determine who was at fault.
Bus accidents can happen in many different ways. Each scenario can have different facts and involve a variety of parties. With the help of experienced legal counsel in Albuquerque, it may be possible to determine fault in a bus accident case. Several parties could be responsible.
These accidents frequently occur due to negligent driving by the bus operator. Some common causes include speeding, driving while intoxicated, or failing to yield the right-of-way. When operators make these mistakes, they can be held directly liable for the damage they cause.
Private bus companies are also frequently at fault. They can share in the liability of their drivers when they cause an accident while working for the bus company. The employer could also be stuck paying for a crash if their negligent hiring or training practices were to blame.
Many of the buses in Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico are owned and operated by a government entity, including municipal, county, and state governments. Sometimes, these entities are at fault for a crash.
In some cases, a local government entity might be negligent in its hiring or training practices, for example, allowing someone with a suspended license to operate a bus. Municipalities may also be liable if the accident occurred due to an employee’s neglectful actions.
Other entities and individuals might also share fault in a bus crash. These could be mechanics hired to maintain the bus who ultimately contributed to the crash through careless repairs. The manufacturer may also be at fault if a vehicle defect is to blame.
Not all bus accidents result in a viable claim for compensation. For an injury victim to recover damages through the legal system, they will need to prove that negligence was involved. This four-step process is key to establishing fault for a bus crash in Albuquerque.
The first step in proving negligence is establishing a duty of care. Usually, this is not at issue, as bus drivers owe an obligation to drive safely to everyone they share the road with.
Next, there must be evidence that the duty of care was breached. It is not uncommon for this to be the primary dispute in an injury case. The last two elements—causation and damages—are related. An injury victim will need to show that their injuries stem from the breached duty of care and that they suffered compensable damages in the crash. Compensable damages could be anything from lost wages to medical bills.
If you have been injured in a bus crash, maximizing your compensation starts with identifying the at-fault party. The right legal team could lead the way by investigating your case and determining who is to blame. Contact our attorneys today to learn more about liability in Albuquerque bus accident cases.
