Bus Accident Lawyers in New Mexico
Bus accidents in Albuquerque, NM, can result in severe injuries and fatalities. As one of the largest vehicles on the road, a bus — whether it’s a school bus, a charter bus, or public transportation — can inflict a lot of damage on a pedestrian, a cyclist, or even a passenger vehicle.
A bus shouldn’t be a risk. These vehicles should be well maintained for safety, and drivers should be properly licensed and trained to pay full attention to the road. However, sometimes things can go horribly wrong. When people get hurt, they need the services of a reliable Albuquerque, NM, bus accident lawyer.
Bus Accident Attorneys Fight for Your Rights
If you or your child were injured in a bus accident, the legal team at The Spence Law Firm can help you file a claim to recover damages. Call us today at (505) 832-6363 to discuss the circumstances of your case.
If you’ve been injured while walking or biking near a bus or while riding on one, you’re likely hurt and worried about how you’ll heal or get back to work. Buses can inflict serious injuries, and you deserve to be compensated for your medical bills.
The Spence Law Firm, experienced bus accident lawyers, can handle accidents involving all kinds of buses, including:
- Tour or charter buses
- School buses
- Public transportation or cross-country buses
- Hotel or airport shuttle buses
Each type of bus accident may have different parties responsible — not all accidents are the same when it comes to establishing responsibility under the law. A bus injury attorney will determine who is at fault for the wreck, who may be liable, and whether any extenuating circumstances could affect your case.
Facts About Bus Accidents
Did you know that more than 25,000 people were hurt in bus accidents in 2017? According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the agency that governs public bus transportation, 15,000 buses were involved in injury crashes, and 232 buses were involved in fatal collisions.
Injuries from a bus accident can be serious and life-changing. Common kinds of injuries from a bus accident include:
- Fractures or broken bones
- Loss of limbs or partial amputations
- Concussions or Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Bruises, cuts, and lacerations
- Crushing injuries or internal organ damage
- Loss of life
As you can see, bus accidents can be quite serious, whether you’re a passenger on the bus or a bus strikes you while you are driving, walking, or riding your bike. You may also have property damage after a bus wreck and experience pain and suffering, PTSD, or emotional and mental anguish.
The best bus accident lawyer can help build a claim for damages that includes compensation for all of these concerns.
What Are Common Kinds of Bus Accidents?
Buses can be involved in many kinds of collisions and accidents, such as:
- Head-on accidents
- Right or left-turn accidents
- Rear-ending collisions
- Wide-turn or merging accidents
- Failure to yield or follow posted road signs
- Unsafe speed accidents
- Pedestrian or bicycle accidents
Buses naturally have a more prominent blind spot than a passenger vehicle and require a wider berth to turn a corner. Because they're so big, they also need more room to slow down, making it dangerous for a car to cut them off in traffic or slam their brakes.
Who Is Liable for My Bus Accident Injuries?
Assigning responsibility for a bus crash can be tricky — it’s not as straightforward as a regular two-vehicle accident. This is why you need the services of an experienced bus crash lawyer, one who understands that there may be more parties involved than just the bus driver and the victims.
For example, if you're a bus passenger in an accident caused by a passenger vehicle driving recklessly, the smaller vehicle’s driver may be liable for your injuries. But the bus driver may share some of the blame if it can be determined that they weren’t paying attention and didn’t notice an erratic vehicle.
Additionally, the bus company may not have trained the bus driver on how to drive defensively.
In another scenario, you could be the driver of the passenger vehicle and get hit by a bus. You may have been following all of the traffic safety rules, but the bus driver may have been poorly trained or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Or the bus itself could have malfunctioned, causing the driver to lose control.
Buses and their drivers are often part of a larger company or government entity. They may have been negligent in hiring and training drivers or they may have failed to maintain their vehicles properly. Even the manufacturer of the bus or parts could be responsible for a malfunctioning consumer product.
Bus Accident Liability Is Complex
As you can see, there are a lot of elements that contribute to your bus accident injuries. This is why you need the right personal injury attorney to handle your case, like those at The Spence Law Firm, who understand the differences in liability.
Depending on the agency that operates the bus, a government entity could also be part of your bus accident liability claim. For example, if your child was injured while riding a school bus or injured by a school bus while walking or riding a bike, the school system and municipality could share some of the blame.
The school system's transportation department has the same duty of care for hiring and training bus drivers as a tour bus company or airport shuttle service.
If the bus in question was a city bus, part of a municipal public transit service, then the city could be liable if they were negligent in supervising drivers or maintaining their buses and trolleys.
Have You Been Hurt in a Bus Accident?
If you've been hurt in an Albuquerque bus accident, you need the best bus accident lawyer in New Mexico — The Spence Law Firm.
You don’t have to go far to find a bus accident lawyer near me. Our locally owned and operated firm can represent you, helping you file your claim, negotiate with insurance companies, and even argue your case before a judge and jury. Call us today for a free consultation about your case!