Bus Accidents Attorney in Flowood, Mississippi

When we hop on a bus, we are entrusting our lives to the bus driver. While riding a bus is a great and cheaper way to get around the city, compared to driving a car, accidents involving buses are not an uncommon occurrence.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a bus accident in Flowood, Clinton, Brandon, Richland, Pearl, or other cities in Mississippi, contact an experienced attorney to help you recover compensation for your injuries and losses.

As a bus accident attorney with years of experience, Attorney Ronald E. Stutzman, Jr. represents clients in accidents involving public transportation. His office, The Stutzman Law Firm, PLLC, has the expertise and resources to help you achieve justice in your case and fight tirelessly for your rights.

Bus Accidents in Mississippi

Bus accidents occur for a variety of reasons. Some contributing factors include congested roadways, bus driver fatigue, bus company negligence, and poor road conditions. Common causes of bus accidents in Mississippi also include:

• Exceeding the speed limit

• Failure to yield the right of way

• Distracted driving

• Inadequately maintained vehicle equipment

• Vehicle defects

• Unsafe turns or lane changes

• Aggressive driving

A bus accident can cause devastating and life-threatening injuries to everyone involved in the crash, including bus passengers and occupants of other vehicles. Some of the factors that contribute to more severe injuries in bus accidents include the size and design of buses and the lack of seatbelts and airbags.  

Liability in Bus Accidents

Depending on the circumstances of a bus accident, liable parties may include:

1. The bus driver. Bus drivers have a duty to operate vehicles with a reasonable degree of care. Drivers of buses must take all reasonable precautions to avoid putting their passengers and other people on the road at risk of harm. When the bus driver fails to exercise reasonable care, they can be held liable for the accident.

2. The bus company. Bus companies have a duty to regularly inspect, maintain, and repair buses and ensure that they hire qualified and competent drivers. When a collision occurs as a result of negligence on the part of the bus company, victims can pursue a claim against the company.

3. Other drivers. The bus driver is not always at fault for causing a crash involving a bus. The negligence or recklessness of other motorists on the road may also cause or contribute to bus accidents.

4. The bus manufacturer. In some cases, a bus accident may be the result of defective vehicle equipment or parts. When a bus manufacturer fails to ensure that their vehicle and its components are safe, and a collision occurs because of the defect, the manufacturer can be held responsible for the damages.

Suing the Other Driver

Mississippi is an at-fault state where liability falls on the party responsible for the accident and the party’s insurance company. Thus, a victim can file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance provider or sue the at-fault party to recover damages. Things can quickly become complicated when the fault is not immediately clear after the bus accident.

Mississippi also follows the rule of pure comparative negligence, which means the amount of damages a victim is entitled to will be limited by their degree of negligence.

Suing the City

A government entity can be held responsible for an accident when its negligence causes or contributes to the crash. However, suing the city can be more complicated than suing an individual or private entity. When filing a lawsuit against a government entity, the victim must follow a set of rules and procedures, such as providing a notice of claim within a specified period of time.

Each city has different procedures in place, and you must consult with an attorney familiar with the procedural requirements and laws in your area to avoid potential obstacles and complications.