Florida Bus Accident Personal Injury May Differ From Passenger Vehicle Personal Injury Law
Bus accident law can be more complex than passenger vehicle personal injury cases. Public transportation in Florida is a government entity. Under the principle of sovereign immunity, the government cannot be sued without its consent. However, under Florida F.S.A. § 768.28(1), Florida waives its sovereign immunity, meaning individuals can pursue lawsuits against the state when a person has suffered damages under the law. However, when suing a government entity, the state makes some exceptions for driving a motor vehicle and places caps on damages an individual or family can seek.
However, sovereign immunity laws don’t have to limit your claim. You and your loved ones may be entitled to seek damages from other stakeholders involved in the accident. For example, if a public transportation service used private contractors, or if another private entity was partially responsible for the accident, you may be able to seek damages outside of sovereign immunity restrictions.
When a person is involved in a bus crash, or their property is damaged due to an accident, there are specific types of damages that can be filed. You may be able to seek compensation to help you pay medical expenses, cover lost wages, and manage the effects of pain and suffering. Generally, when a bus plays the leading role in an accident, the damage and injuries can be quite severe as a bus’s weight and size can be immense. In order to cover the total costs of a serious injury, your attorney may seek damages from different stakeholders after a crash.
But how do you determine who is to be held at fault after trying to regroup and recover after being harmed? Although filing a bus accident claim in Florida doesn’t necessarily require the representation of a bus accident attorney, it can be quite beneficial to seek representation from a qualified attorney, as there are several parties who may be held accountable for causing the accident. Some of them include:
- The government entity or management company
- Other negligent drivers on the road
- The bus driver
- Equipment manufacturers
For example, bus drivers are required to hold special certifications in Florida in order to be permitted to drive a public bus. According to the Florida Department of Safety and Motor Vehicles, commercial drivers who carry passengers are required to pass special road and skills tests before they can get an endorsement to drive a bus. Bus drivers must also pass required medical tests to ensure that they are safe to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
A bus accident legal representative is more than capable at surveying the situation, investigating any and all evidence from the collision, determining stakeholders in the lawsuit, and estimating a fair value for your claim. If you have been hurt, you may only have a limited amount of time to seek a recovery for your damages. Visit USAttorneys.com today to learn more.
Florida Charter Bus Accident Lawyers
According to the State of Florida website, an 87.3 million people visit Florida in a given year. These visitors get around using a variety of means. Some choose to travel in charter and tour buses. While traveling by bus can be safe, when accidents happen, individuals can be seriously hurt. Victims of bus accidents may face paralysis, back injuries, neck injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and other injuries. Buses may carry anywhere from $1 million to $5 million in insurance coverage. However, if many people are injured in a crash, these amounts may simply not be sufficient to cover a person’s medical expenses. For example, according to the Dana & Christopher Reeve Foundation, the costs of living with a spinal cord injury can be anywhere from more than $1 million in the first year alone, and as high as over $100,000 a year in subsequent years. If you and your family have been hurt in a charter or private bus accident, consider visiting USAttorneys.com today to learn more about your options. We may be able to connect you with a qualified bus accident lawyer today.
Don’t Delay as Your Time Frame To Find a Florida Bus Accident Lawyer is Limited
Although personal injury lawsuits must be filed within four years from the date of the mishap, when going up against a government entity, your time frame may be significantly decreased. For example, under sovereign immunity, you may only have three years to bring forth an action. This means you must find and retain a Florida bus accident attorney quickly in order to successfully file your claim. USAttorneys.com can help you get connected with a qualified bus accident lawyer in the state of Florida. Speak with one of our agents today and allow them to assist you with your concerns.
If you or a family member is a victim of a Florida bus accident, USAttorneys.com may be able to help you file a claim. Get a free, no-obligation consultation from one of our Florida bus accident lawyers who can answer your questions. To schedule an evaluation, call us at 1-800-672-3103.
