Bus Accidents

Buses certainly are a convenient form of public transportation – whether they be commuter buses, tour buses, airport shuttles, ski shuttle buses, casino buses or, of course, school buses. As common carriers, bus drivers and bus companies owe their passengers a greater duty of care in protecting them from harm. Bus driving takes special training and that training must be adequate. Buses also need to be checked regularly for safe operation.

Actions against a common carrier bus service can involve the negligent conduct of the driver or inadequate training, or the condition of the bus itself such as improper maintenance or defective parts.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a bus accident, there are particular nuances regarding the filing of a lawsuit. The deadlines are called statutes of limitations and they vary from state to state. Certain common carriers that are owned by governmental entities such as federal, state, county or city governments may have special notices that must be given before filing a lawsuit. These time periods can be very short.

If you are involved in a bus accident, be sure to contact the police. If you are able, take down the driver's name, address, date of birth, driver's license number and expiration date. Get his or her phone number. Get their insurance company's information. Get the make, year, model, license plate number, expiration, date and vehicle identification (VIN) number of all vehicles involved in the accident. If the driver is not the owner of the vehicle, you will need all of this information of the owner of the vehicle. Be sure to get identification information of any passengers in any cars who may have been witnesses. Also, see if you can get the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses to the accident. Even if the person will not offer the information, get that person's license plate number. Note the road, weather and lighting conditions.

If you or someone you love was injured in a car, motorcycle or bus accident, it is important to have an experienced and dedicated attorney on your side. The attorneys at Anderson & Mitchell, PLLC have a demonstrated history of success in helping clients with their personal injury claims and are dedicated to giving you the best representation. Call Anderson & Mitchell, PLLC at (206) 436-8490 or send an email to ba@andersonmitchell.com