Bus And Limo Accident Lawyer In
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Limousines have the important job of carting tourists around the state, and buses are responsible for transporting thousands every day. Not anyone can drive the public around, and those that qualify have a duty to protect everyone in their vehicles. This duty is not just a moral one, but it is also legally binding. Everyone using the road has a responsibility to do so safely, but public drivers even more so.
Companies are responsible for the drivers they employ, irrespective of whether they are private- or government-run. The State of Florida mandates specific certification for any business transporting others for profit, and drivers themselves must have special licenses to chauffeur the public. Despite these laws, accidents can and do happen. Frequently, and often involving buses and limousines.
Legal Protection for Bus and Limousine Victims in Florida
Tragically, many of these wrecks involve school buses and crash rates are not declining. In fact, they are increasing steadily each year. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration , 2015 saw an 11 percent increase in the total number of fatal bus accidents from 2014. Florida law holds those responsible for this carnage legally liable for the damages they cause.
Unfortunately, devastation is typically catastrophic. These enormous vehicles can cleave a path of destruction through passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, and anyone else unfortunate to be in their way. People die, and many more suffer some of the gravest injuries imaginable, including lifelong scarring, disfigurement, and even permanent disability.
Because buses carry hundreds of people, victims are many wherever they crash. They all have potentially exorbitant medical bills to pay. Some lose their income during rehabilitation; others never recover. Still some leave loved ones behind, who must pay for all of this, deal with the loss of a breadwinner, and still survive the grief somehow.
Negligent Causes of Bus and Limo Accidents
The public transportation industry, which includes buses and limousines, has strict, complex, and often-confusing rules and regulations governing it. Your claim would not be the same as it would for an accident involving two cars. You are not dealing solely with a reckless driver and his or her insurance provider: You are claiming from giant businesses with the resources to fight your claim in court.
It is a guarantee that any buses or limousine company involved in a wreck will do all that it can to protect itself, including hiring the best legal team and using every legal trick in the book to get you to settle for the least amount possible. You should never settle without legal advice of your own, as having a lawyer will protect you from such tactics and help secure a settlement that you both need and deserve.
Buses and limousines crash for many different reasons, but negligence is always involved. Every accident is preventable and someone is always responsible. In these cases, there could be several defendants, including the driver, the bus manufacturer, the maintenance company, the owner, or even the government, and these common causes of bus and limo wrecks may help explain why:
Driver Fatigue
Many businesses intentionally overwork their drivers. This is a particularly large problem with commercial drivers, but it is true in the transportation industry too. Drivers work long hours transporting as many passengers in as short a timeframe as possible, with overtime their incentive. This causes driver fatigue and leads to many preventable wrecks. Companies have a legal duty to prevent this.
Unqualified Drivers
Unfortunately, many bus and limousine companies employ unqualified drivers. Nobody may transport passengers without first passing applicable driving tests and receiving their certifications. If an unqualified driver injures you or kills a loved one, then it is entirely the company’s fault and you have every legal right to sue for the maximum compensation available under law.
Poor Maintenance
Buses and limousines must undergo frequent maintenance checks. Every potential malfunction requires immediate repair. Florida law obligates transportation companies to ensure the safety of their vehicles, and compliance requires proper procedures for noticing and fixing problems before they kill or injure people. If any part of a bus malfunctions and causes a wreck, the company is liable for damages.
Driver Distractions
Every driver on the road is vulnerable to common distractions. From cellphones to rowdy passengers and fighting kids, the temptation to take your eyes off the road is a danger we all face. In fact, distracted driving is the leading cause of all crashes in the United States. Bus and limo drivers also get distracted, and if their recklessness results in death and injury, you have grounds to file a claim.
Role of a Limo and Bus Accident Lawyer in Florida
You should not have to pay for the mistakes of others. If injured by the negligence of someone else, you have every right to claim compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, future loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages. You may need to fight harder for it in the case of bus or limousine wrecks, as these companies will try to discredit your claim and deny liability for the crash.
A personal injury attorney can handle the legalities on your behalf so that you can focus on recovery. He or she can protect you from unethical tactics used to get you to sign an unfair settlement, and should the liable party refuse to comply, then he or she can take your case to court and fight for the compensation that you deserve. Call today to discuss your case in a free initial consultation.