Liability in Redmond Bus Accident Cases

If you have been hurt in a preventable accident while riding a commercial or public bus, you likely want to know who you can hold accountable for the losses you have unfairly sustained. Civil recovery, however, is directly tied to who holds liability for your accident-related losses. Accountability may be personally satisfying, but determining liability could award you the financial restitution you need to reduce the impact of your injuries on your life.

Various individuals may be at fault when establishing liability in Redmond bus accident cases, such as the bus driver, their employer, or the local government responsible for road upkeep. With years of experience in government tort defense, our knowledgeable bus accident attorney understands how to build a strong case to hold a public transit operator liable for negligence. Contact Narwal Injury Law today to begin pursuing justice for your injuries.

Understanding the Legal Theory of Negligence

At its most basic level, liability in bus accident claims and other types of civil litigation in Redmond revolves around negligence, the concept that someone who accidentally causes harm is responsible for the resulting consequences. Four criteria must be met to demonstrate to a court that someone acted negligently:

• They owed a duty of care to the injured party filing suit, requiring them to act responsibly in certain ways under certain circumstances
• They violated that duty by committing a specific careless, reckless, or unlawful act
• The act was the main and direct cause of an otherwise avoidable accident
• The accident was the main and direct cause of the injuries sustained by the individual filing suit

Someone found to have negligently caused a bus accident may be required to financially compensate all injured parties who file suit for every loss they have experienced as a result of their injuries.

Unique Requirements for Common Carriers

Everyone who operates any kind of motor vehicle on public roads has the same duty of care requiring them to obey traffic laws, pay attention while driving, and react reasonably to road conditions. However, bus drivers in particular have an expanded duty of care as a result tof of their legal status as common carriers.

More specifically, bus drivers must operate their vehicles in such a way that passengers on board are not at risk of injury due to dangerous circumstances other than traffic accidents. For example, if a bus driver accelerates too quickly away from a stop, a boarding passenger who falls in the aisle of the bus and suffers an injury as a result might be able to hold that driver liable in a Redmond bus accident case, as the driver’s careless act could qualify as a breach of their common carrier duty of care.

Why Are Government Bodies Not Immune From Bus Crash Liability?

It is important to mention that public transit agencies and the governments that operate them do not have sovereign immunity protecting them from legal liability in Redmond bus crash cases. This is because the Washington Tort Claims Act explicitly carves out tortious conduct, or traditional negligence, as an exception to the immunity government entities usually have from civil liability.

However, there are some unique rules and restrictions for claims of this nature, including specific filing deadlines and notice requirements. A member of our team could discuss those regulations and the impact they might have on your claim during a private initial meeting.

Contact a Redmond Attorney About Liability in Bus Accident Cases

Accidents involving private commercial bus companies are often difficult to file suit over for many reasons, and lawsuits against public transit operators can be even more complex. Support from a knowledgeable legal professional could make a difference in how completely you understand your legal options and how effectively you can enforce your rights under state law.

The team at Narwal Injury Law is experienced with establishing liability in Redmond bus accident cases. We could help you identify and accurately value your compensable losses while guiding you around any legal or procedural obstacles you encounter throughout the process. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.