Boston Bus Accident Lawyers Highlights Penalties Driver Receives for Causing Fatal Shuttle Bus Crash in Massachusetts
A Massachusetts man was recently sentenced to seven years in prison after causing a fatal accident back in 2016 that involved a hotel shuttle bus that was transporting visitors from the airport to their hotel. According to Turn to 10, 28-year-old Steven Birenbaum was driving his vehicle, traveling at about 80 mph while under the influence of alcohol, prescription medications, and marijuana when he struck the rear of the shuttle bus. On that bus was two El Paso, TX residents, 59-year-old Joseph Rodriguez and 47-year-old Sandra Arreola, who had just been picked up from the airport and were on their way to their hotel.
The two Texas residents were killed as a result of the accident and the bus driver along with two other passengers who were riding on the bus were also injured. After being charged for the various crimes he committed, Birenbaum pleaded guilty in February to two counts of manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The news source did not indicate whether the surviving family of the two Texas residents were planning to file a wrongful death lawsuit or if the injured parties planned to file a claim for the injuries Birenbaum’s negligence caused them to sustain.
What types of damages are available to victims and their families who have been affected by a bus accident?
After being involved in a bus accident caused by a negligent or careless bus driver or motorist, there are two types of damages you can attempt to recover, compensatory and punitive.
What are compensatory and punitive damages?
After retaining a MA bus accident lawyer who can assist you with filing the necessary paperwork, you may be entitled to collect compensatory damages that will compensate you for the following given they apply to your case:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages, both current and those you would have received in the future.
- Pain and suffering that you experience now and anticipate in the future.
- Loss of consortium, which is the damage the accident has caused to your relationship with your spouse.
- The costs associated with property damage.
Punitive damages are generally awarded when you sustain a serious injury or lose someone close to you because of another person’s negligence which generally results in criminal charges being pressed against them. Most accident victims who demand punitive damages be awarded are looking to punish the person for causing the accident while discouraging them from engaging in the same or similar behavior again.
It is generally easier for an injured party to recover punitive damages when the driver who caused the accident was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was convicted for that crime.
One thing you need to be aware of when filing a personal injury claim is that there is a great deal of thought that goes into the process which is why it is best that you have a bus accident lawyer who is skilled in this field of law help you. They can review with you the timeframe you have to file, the parties you can hold responsible, and the amount of money you should ask for that will cover all the pain, suffering, and losses you have taken as a result of the accident.
Therefore, if you were recently injured in a bus collision in Boston or lost a loved one to one of these accidents, contact USAttorneys.com and we will connect you with a local bus accident attorney in Bostonm today. They will be able to explain the process you will need to go through after assessing the details of your case and provide you with the advice and guidance you will need to carry out these tasks.
