Tucker Bus Accident Attorney
Bus accidents can involve school buses, tour buses, city buses, and other kinds of public transit vehicles. Given the large size of buses, accidents with pedestrians or crashes involving smaller passenger vehicles can be devastating. If you or someone you love sustained injuries in a bus collision, you should seek advice from a Tucker bus accident attorney as soon as possible about your options for seeking financial compensation.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Tucker
Bus accidents can happen for many different reasons, and a wide variety of parties may be responsible for the collision. In many cases, the bus driver’s own negligence or error is the cause of the bus crash. At the same time, however, another motorist’s careless or reckless actions may have resulted in the wreck, or a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian could have made a mistake that contributed to the bus accident. Indeed, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) cites multiple causes for serious and deadly bus accidents. The following are some common causes of bus crashes in Tucker, Georgia:
- Bus driver error (may include, for example, collisions caused by aggressive driving, distracted driving, drunk driving, or drowsy driving);
- Motorist’s error (may include, for example, collisions caused by aggressive driving, distracted driving, drunk driving, or drowsy driving);
- Poor maintenance of the bus, or poor maintenance of another motor vehicle involved in the crash;
- Bicyclist or pedestrian error (such as distracted bicycling or walking, drunk bicycling or walking, or failure to obey traffic signals or signs);
- Negligent mechanic who worked on the bus or another vehicle involved in the collision;
- Defective bus or car part;
- Inclement weather; and/or
- Poor road conditions.
Comparative Fault and Your Tucker Bus Accident Case
Even in situations where a bus driver’s negligence clearly played a role in causing the collision, the bus driver or another defendant may allege that the injured plaintiff was also negligent. This issue is one of comparative fault or comparative negligence. For example, a defendant might say that an injured plaintiff who was on foot when struck by a bus was distracted from texting on a cell phone and stepped out of the crosswalk area when crossing the street. Or, for instance, a defendant might argue that a driver involved in a collision with a bus was speeding at the time of the crash even though the bus driver ran a red light.
Under Georgia law, plaintiffs can still recover damages even when they are partially at fault for their injuries as long as they are not 50 percent or more at fault. In such a case, the damages award will be reduced by the plaintiff’s portion of fault. Once a plaintiff shares the same portion of fault with a defendant (or multiple defendants), the plaintiff is barred from recovery.
Contact a Tucker Bus Accident Attorney
Do you need help filing a bus accident claim? An experienced bus accident lawyer in Tucker can help. Contact The Strickland Firm to discuss your case and to learn more about the services we provide to accident victims in Georgia.
