Humble Bus Accident Attorney
Big buses filled with people are a common sight in sprawling urban areas, and Greater Houston is about the same geographic size as New Jersey. Sadly, most bus drivers are more concerned with staying on schedule than with the safety of their passengers or other travellers on the road. Buses carry so many people and they are so large that, when they crash, they often cause catastrophic injuries.
The dedicated Humble bus accident attorneys at The West Law Office help these victims put their lives back together. We quickly connect victims with doctors, even if they have no money or insurance. Then, we collect evidence and build a solid claim. Finally, when the case goes to court, we never stop fighting for you.
Duty of Care
Most noncommercial drivers have a duty of reasonable care. They must avoid accidents when possible and obey the rules of the road.
Texas law holds bus drivers, Uber drivers, taxi drivers, and other common carriers to a higher standard of care. These individuals are practically insurers of safe passenger conduct from Point A to Point B.
Inclement weather is a good example of the difference between these two duties. Noncommercial operators have a duty to slow down and use additional caution in the rain. Arguably, common carriers have a duty to stop and wait until it stops raining, or at least wait until the rain slacks off.
Additionally, common carriers have a duty to keep passengers safe while they are aboard. That means things like breaking up petty fights before they become violent and keeping aisles free of debris and other hazards.
Transit Accidents
METRO drivers are not above the law when it comes to personal injury matters. However, because of the sovereign immunity doctrine, these claims are rather complex.
When government employees, like bus drivers and police officers, negligently cause car wrecks and other such injuries, the victim must first file a notice of claim. This notice puts the city or county on notice of the claim and gives the governmental entity a set period of time, usually sixty days, to investigate the claim and settle it.
If the settlement offer is unacceptable, further legal action might be possible. Note that Humble or Harris County, as opposed to the individual driver, is financially responsible for damages.
Intercity/Tour Bus Accidents
Private companies usually own these vehicles. Although the notice of claim rule is inapplicable, these claims are still complex.
First, there is the aforementioned higher duty of care. That makes it easier for The West Law Office’s team to establish negligence, or a lack of care. The entity which owned the bus, which is generally an out-of-state holding company, is financially responsible for damages, at least in most cases.
The respondeat superior (let the master answer) rule applies in most of these vehicle collision claims. If a passenger was injured on the bus itself, other doctrines, such as negligent hiring or negligent supervision, might apply.
Compensation in bus accident claims usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Contact an Assertive Texas Bus Accident Attorney
Bus accidents are generally quite complex. For a free consultation with an experienced bus accident attorney in Humble, contact The West Law Office, PLLC. We routinely handle matters in Harris County and nearby jurisdictions.
