Denver, CO Bus Accident Attorneys Protecting the Interests of the Injured

Every day, thousands of people in Denver and across Colorado use buses to get to their destinations. From children riding school buses, to workers commuting to jobs using public transportation, to tourists on tour buses, many people trust their bus driver to keep them safe during their trip. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, bus drivers are negligent and cause accidents or rollovers that can cause serious injuries to many passengers at once. Other times, a third-party driver acted negligently, and the bus driver was unable to prevent the accident, despite his or her training.

Whatever the cause of the bus accident, it can be a frightening and devastating event for the passengers involved. Due to the mass of the vehicle and the lack of safety equipment installed on most buses, a bus accident can leave victims injured and stunned. A Denver bus accident lawyer from Genco Injury Attorneys understands the complexities of filing a personal injury claim due to an accident involving a bus. Our Colorado bus accident lawyers can inform you of your rights and options for filing bus accident claims. We will fight to ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable for your Denver bus accident to obtain the compensation you are entitled to. Call today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Denver bus accident lawyers.

Why do bus accidents happen?

Bus drivers are highly trained professionals. They carry a CDL license and usually have specific training on how to operate a bus to keep their passengers safe. However, like any driver, they are human and can make mistakes. Sadly, when a bus driver acts negligently, their actions can affect a large number of people. While driver negligence is a common cause of bus accidents, there are times when the driver is not at fault. Determining the origins of a bus accident and who is at fault can be challenging due to all the factors involved, but understanding what led to the accident helps those investigating decide who is liable. Some common causes of bus accidents include:

• Driver negligence, including, but not limited to:
• Speeding
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Reckless driving
• Not leaving enough space between vehicles
• Driving while fatigued
• Improper maintenance of buses
• Defective or damaged bus parts
• Poorly designed buses
• Negligence by other drivers on the road
• Adverse weather conditions
• Intersections, roundabouts and other road features that were not properly designed for use by buses

What injuries can be caused by a bus accident?

Bus accident victims suffer many of the same injuries as those who are injured in a car accident. What makes bus accidents more dangerous is the lack of safety equipment, such as seat belts and airbags, to cushion the impact of a crash. On mass transit, some people must spend their commute standing up due to the crowded nature of buses. Even an abrupt stop or sharp turn by the driver could cause them to fall and be injured. Buses are also known to roll over in accidents, causing significant injuries to many victims. Injuries that can result from a bus accident include:

• Whiplash
• Soft tissue damage
• Fractures
• Back and neck injuries
• Burns
• Crush injuries
• Dislocations
• Head trauma
• Cuts and bruises
• Paralysis
• Amputated limbs
• Damage to internal organs
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

If injuries are severe enough, death can result from the accident. Survivors may face a long road to recovery. Even when they have recovered from physical damage, the trauma of a bus accident can leave them with mental and emotional difficulties, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and nightmares. These symptoms are especially prevalent in those who experienced a TBI during the accident. These victims may also have difficulties with communication, mood swings, personality disturbances, seizures, memory problems, and other side effects that can significantly impact their quality of life.

Who could be liable for a bus accident?

After a bus accident, it can be difficult to determine where to file your personal injury claim, as there are often many people and entities involved. The ultimate answer as to who is liable for your damages will vary depending on the unique circumstances of your case. Sometimes, multiple people may share blame for the accident. Even in cases where the accident was primarily caused by factors outside of the driver’s control, such as bad weather or poorly maintained roads, the driver may have contributed to the accident through negligent actions and made the accident’s outcome worse. Parties who may be held fully or partially liable for bus accidents in Colorado include:

• The bus driver
• The bus company or the bus driver’s employer
• The government agency or municipality that manages the public transportation system
• The manufacturer or designer of the bus, if manufacturing or design defects caused or contributed to the accident
• Third party drivers involved in the accident, if their negligence caused the bus accident
• Bus maintenance providers

In order for your case to be heard in court, you must file your claim against the responsible parties within the statute of limitations. In Colorado, you generally have three years to file your bus accident claim. This may seem like a long time, but building a strong case takes time, and you want to make sure you are within the deadline so you don’t lose your chance to recover compensation for your injuries. The time available to file your claim is also significantly shorter if a government agency is one of the parties being sued. In those cases, you only have a few months. Therefore, it is crucial to enlist the help of a Denver bus accident lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected and that you understand all of your legal options and deadlines.

What is the common carrier law?

A personal injury claim from a bus accident is somewhat different from a regular car accident claim because of the impact of common carrier laws. A common carrier is an entity that charges a fee to move goods or people from one place to another. Anyone can use a common carrier as long as they pay the fee. Because it is the business of a common carrier, such as a city bus, to transport people to a destination safely, they are required by law to owe their customers a heightened duty of care. This goes beyond the usual negligence doctrine that applies in personal injury cases. So what does this mean for your case? In order to have a successful claim, you still need to prove that the bus operator and/or driver owed you a duty of care and that they breached that duty, which directly caused your injuries. However, because of common carrier laws, it may be easier to prove negligence on the part of the bus driver or bus company. Because they owe each passenger the utmost care, rather than just reasonable care, their actions may be considered negligent in situations where a common carrier’s actions would not be. An experienced Denver bus accident attorney can explain in more detail how common carrier laws apply to your individual case.

How can a bus accident lawyer help you?

If you or a family member has been in a bus accident, you know how difficult it is to try to recover compensation for your injuries. Insurance companies are not very understanding of the fact that you are in constant pain and large medical bills due to the bus accident that is causing you stress. They are for-profit companies that are primarily interested in paying as little as possible for your claim. They are quick to deny your damages and try to shift the blame for the accident onto others. The competent Denver bus accident attorneys at Genco Injury Attorneys are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. We know how to determine who may be liable in your specific case so that they can efficiently file the necessary claims and begin the negotiation process to get you maximum compensation for your damages. Although most claims can be settled out of court, if it is necessary to take the case to trial, we will not hesitate to do so. Contact our offices today for a free consultation with a bus accident attorney: 303-500-1376.