Who is Held Liable for a City Bus Accident?

In Connecticut, many commuters rely on city buses to commute to and from school, work, errands, appointments, and activities. These thousands of commuters depend on the safety measures and competence taken by the bus drivers and the companies that train them, employ them, and maintain and repair the buses.

Bus drivers and companies are ultimately liable for the safety of all road users and their passengers. But when bus drivers or their employers act negligently, whether it’s driving too fast, ignoring traffic rules, failing to maintain the equipment regularly, or some other inaction or negligent action, crashes may result in which passengers and other road users get injured or killed.

Common Types of City Bus Accidents

Some of the most common types of city bus crashes in Connecticut are:

• Injuries resulting from sudden starts or stops, particularly when passengers are standing up inside buses
• Injuries to passengers while boarding or getting off the bus
• Crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians
• Collisions with other motor vehicles
• Accidents involving negligent driving behavior, such as speeding, running red lights and stop signs, reckless driving, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and impaired driving, among others.
• Crashes due to bad road or weather conditions

Some city bus crashes may likewise involve speeding on highways, which can be extremely dangerous because buses need sufficient time to slow down. Regardless of the type of accident and what led to it, liability for an injured party’s damages hinges on figuring out which party caused the crash.

Who is Liable For Your City Bus Accident Losses?

As it is with other motor vehicle accidents, the party whose negligent actions caused the crash can be held responsible for the injured party’s losses. However, what makes city bus accidents different and more complex than an accident involving privately owned vehicles is that liability may be assigned to multiple parties. These potentially liable parties can include the following:

• The negligent bus driver
• Other drivers
• A bus passenger
• The company that employs the bus driver
• The company responsible for maintaining the bus
• The bus manufacturer
• The state or local agency responsible for operating the bus
• The manufacturer of the bus parts or equipment
• The local or state agency tasked to maintain the roadway where the accident occurred

Determining liability in city bus crashes can be complicated. Likewise, if the claim is against the state or local government agency, the injured party will only have a limited time to file their claim.

Talk to an Experienced Enfield Roadside Lawyer

For those who have been injured in a city bus accident in Connecticut, let the Enfield roadside lawyer of Berman & Russo work to investigate and handle your claim. They would aggressively fight to secure damages that will reflect the full extent of your losses.

Learn more about your case and the best legal options for you by discussing your situation with our Enfield roadside lawyer. Schedule your complimentary consultation with our Enfield roadside lawyer by reaching us online or calling 860-644-1548.