Newport News Bus Accident Lawyer
People entrust bus drivers and bus companies to safely transport themselves to their jobs and their children to school every day. But, when bus accidents happen, they can have devastating consequences.
If you or a loved one was injured on a bus or by a bus on the VA peninsula, you might be entitled to compensation. But determining your rights and whether recovery is an option for you could be challenging without a Newport News bus accident lawyer by your side. A detail-oriented personal injury lawyer could review your case and help you weigh your options. Best of all, you do not need to pay upfront to consult with the bus accident lawyers at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers.
Bus Accident Claims in VA
One of the most common causes of bus accidents is negligence. A party is negligent if they commit a wrongful act that unintentionally causes harm to another person. Negligence covers a wide range of cases stemming from injuries that were suffered as a result of an accident or incident where the defendant failed to act reasonably under the circumstances.
The Four Elements
In order to bring a personal injury case based on negligence, a bus accident victim in Newport News would have to prove the following four elements:
- The defendant owed the duty of care
- The defendant breached their duty of care
- The defendant’s negligent conduct caused the plaintiff’s injuries
- The plaintiff suffered harm as a result
Ordinarily, people owe a duty of care to others to act as a reasonably prudent person would under the circumstances. This is especially true for bus drivers. In fact, the duty is higher on a bus driver as passengers are owed a special high duty. A breach of duty may occur when a bus driver fails to act reasonably and protect others from harm. Because a bus is a common carrier, they must be particularly careful in VA. Typical examples of breaching the duty for bus drivers would be failing to stop at a stop sign, speeding over the limit, or otherwise violating traffic laws. Professional bus drivers usually need CDLs (commercial drivers’ licenses) as expert drivers.
The defendant’s breach must also cause the plaintiff’s injuries. Under negligence law, the defendant’s negligent conduct must be both the actual and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. This means that if the defendant did not act the way they did, you would not have been hurt.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bus Crash in Newport News
The issue of vicarious liability may come up in bus accident cases since most bus drivers operate their vehicles on behalf of a municipal or corporate entity. Vicarious liability allows you to hold not only the negligent employee but also the employer liable for damages.
The basic requirement is that the negligent employee committed their negligent act during the scope of their employment. It does not matter whether the employer was aware of the employee’s conduct or not, or that the employer was independently itself, under vicarious liability. The bus company can be held liable for its employee’s negligent conduct. A Newport News bus accident lawyer can fully examine the causes of your injury to determine who could be held liable.
Get Help From a Newport News Bus Accident Attorney
Enduring the pain and consequences that come with an injury can be stressful. Getting the compensation you need does not have to be if you have the right legal help. A Newport News bus accident lawyer could review the circumstances of your case and help you navigate the legal process of attaining just compensation for your injuries. Start exploring your options, call now for a free no-obligation consultation.
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