Thousands of people ride buses every day in Connecticut, and the recent introduction Connecticut’s first Bus Rapid Transit System, CTfastrak, has made riding buses easier and faster than ever. Unfortunately, buses get into accidents like other vehicles on the road, sometimes with devastating consequences.
Buses are much larger and heavier than other vehicles on the road. This means that when they are involved in accidents, the occupants of smaller cars and trucks can be seriously injured. Additionally, buses are capable of hauling dozens of people from place to place, so when they crash, the number of people injured often far exceeds the number that would be injured in an accident not involving a bus.
If you have been in a bus accident, you may be wondering who can be held liable for your injuries and other losses. Just like with any other accident, the party whose negligence caused your accident can often be liable for your accident-related losses under Connecticut law. What makes a bus accident different that a crash involving only privately owned passenger cars is that are many more potential parties involved. Some of the parties that could be held liable for your bus accident include:
- The bus driver
- Other motorists
- A passenger on the bus
- The company responsible for the maintenance of the bus
- The state agency responsible for the operation of the bus
- The bus manufacturer
- The manufacturer of bus equipment or parts
- The state agency responsible for road maintenance
Determining liability in a bus accident can be a complicated issue, so it’s important for victims to retain a lawyer familiar with representing victims of mass transit accidents. In addition, if you have a claim against a state agency (such as the Connecticut Department of Transportation), you have a very limited amount of time to file your claim. For this reason, anyone involved in a bus accident in Connecticut should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible.
Protecting Your Rights After a Bus Accident
There are certain steps you should take after a bus accident to maximize your chances of recovering compensation. These include the following:
- Take pictures of the aftermath of the accident, taking care to get images of the damage to your vehicle (if applicable) and your injuries. Make sure you get the names of the drivers involved and make note of the name of the company responsible for operating the bus.
- Seek medical attention, even if you do not believe you are seriously hurt. It’s important to have official medical records for any insurance claim that you may make.
- Do not accept a settlement offer before speaking to a lawyer.
- Call an attorney as soon as you can. Waiting to call a lawyer may risk the loss or destruction of evidence important to your case. In addition, if you wait too long, you may not be able to bring a claim at all.
Call Leighton, Katz & Drapeau Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With a Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney
At Leighton, Katz & Drapeau, we are committed to helping motor vehicle accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve. To schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer serving Connecticut, call our office today at (860) 875-7000 or send us an email through our online contact form.
