HOW MUCH IS MY BUS ACCIDENT CASE WORTH? WHAT DAMAGES AM I ENTITLED TO?
Injuries from bus accidents can be catastrophic at worst and at a minimum the injuries can be painful. Additionally, seeking treatment afterwards can be overwhelming and can require extensive medical treatment and lead the injured to miss time at work. Fortunately, Rhode Island law provides a way for you to hold the negligent person or company financially responsible for your injuries and damages.
Damages for injuries to bus accident victims in Rhode Island can include payment for:
ECONOMIC DAMAGE – such as tangible out of pocket costs which are often established with bills and invoices
- Medical expenses, including past, present, and future bills
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Transportation costs
- Costs of medical devices and modifications and accommodations to your home or vehicle
- Costs of assistive devices
- Expenses for in-home healthcare and household services
- Lost wages, both from missed work and missed future earning potential
- Household bills
NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES – which include general intangible damages. These damages affect quality of life, but are oftentimes more significant, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Anxiety and post-traumatic stress (emotional distress)
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Lifestyle Impairment
PUNITIVE DAMAGES – In some instances the responsible party’s conduct is so egregious, that punitive damages are appropriate as a means of punishment and a deterrent to future bad conduct.
In the event that loved one has died in a bus accident you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim for those left behind. Of course no amount of money can bring your loved on back or provide adequate compensation, but you nevertheless may be able to recover for funeral and burial costs, loss of income, and loss of companionship.
At Marin and Barrett, Inc., our Rhode Island bus accident lawyers will fight for every dollar you deserve. On these types of cases it is often helpful to work closely with expert witnesses to ensure that your injuries and damages are valued fully. This extra effort makes sure that you recover all you deserve for your bus accident injuries.
HOW IS FAULT DETERMINED AFTER A BUS ACCIDENT IN RHODE ISLAND?
How is responsibility for a bus accident determined? Although at first glance it seems obvious, the responsible party isn’t always so clear. Following a bus accident, the local or state police will initiate an investigation; if there is a bus accident with multiple fatalities, the National Transportation and Safety Board will initiate an investigation. However, in most cases, eyewitness reports and available video footage that captures the accident are what becomes the official record. Additionally, our skilled team of Rhode Island bus accident attorneys will conduct our own investigation into the cause of a bus accident. Our team of bus accident attorneys will determine who is responsible for the accident, including whether the:
- Bus driver caused the accident – and whether the bus company who employs the driver is also liable
- The bus company is responsible for failing to maintain the bus or ensuring that the bus is operating safely/is inspected properly
- The company that manufactured the bus or bus parts is responsible
- A negligent driver collides with the bus – in this instance it may be difficult to recover damages if the negligent driver of the car that hit the bus is carrying minimum liability coverage and it is determined that the bus driver and bus company aren’t at fault
CHILDREN ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE INJURED IN BUS ACCIDENTS
When you get in your car, you buckle up for safety, and if you are a parent, you ensure that your children are safely buckled up, as well. But if you are a parent, do you wonder about your children as they board their bus to go to school and return home each day? How safe are they aboard the bus, particularly if the bus – like most – has no seat belts for its passengers?
According to School Transportation News, during the average school year, nearly 23.5 million elementary and secondary school children ride a bus to and from school each day. Add in extracurricular activities, and the school bus system is the largest public transportation system in the United States.
Like any form of vehicular transportation, accidents involving school buses are inevitable. Based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, the National Safety Council (NSC) reported that there were 3,000 injuries to school bus passengers and 1,000 injuries to school bus drivers in 2017.
Sadly, from 2007 to 2016 there have been 1,282 people killed in school bus crashes – an average of 128 fatalities per year. Within the same time period, 98 school-age pedestrians (18 and younger) have died in school bus related crashes.
RHODE ISLAND BUS ACCIDENT LAWYERS: HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
Have you or someone you love been injured in a bus accident in Rhode Island? At Marin and Barrett, Inc., our Rhode Island bus accident lawyers understand that a bus accident can have catastrophic and long-lasting complications from injuries. You have the legal right to seek compensation from the negligent/responsible driver and or company and we can help to make sure that you are fully compensated. Call our office at 401-228-8271 to schedule your free, no obligation Rhode Island bus accident case evaluation today.
To Learn More About Your Rights and Receive a Free Initial Consultation from local
Rhode Island Bus Accident Attorneys, Contact us 24/7 at 401-228-8271
**YOU ONLY PAY IF WE WIN**
HOW DO I GET STARTED WITH MY BUS ACCIDENT CASE?
First thing is first, be sure to get the medical attention you need. Once you do that, the bills will start pouring in and the expenses add up in a hurry. Realistically you’ll want to contact an attorney as soon as possible. The evidence you may need is often the freshest shortly after the accident, and you can rest assured that the party or parties responsible for your injuries will be gearing up for their own legal fight and you will not want to be left behind.
