Jackson, MS Bus Accident Lawyers

School buses, charter buses, coach buses, JATRAN buses, Greyhound buses – these are some of the common carriers you will see on roads and interstates in Jackson, Mississippi. What if you are riding on a bus that runs off the road? What if your kids are hurt in a school bus crash on at the end of the day their way home? What if a bus crashes into your car? Depending on the facts, claims for negligence may be asserted with the assistance of a bus accident lawyer in the Jackson area against the bus driver, the company that employs him or her, or both.

In an auto or bus accident case, Mississippi places the burden of proof on the injured victim(s). To prove liability against a bus driver, you must show that the bus driver failed to act and drive reasonably under the circumstances, which could be due to numerous reasons – driving while intoxicated, speeding, or disregarding traffic lights, just to name a few. Generally speaking, Mississippi law states all drivers owe a duty to others on the road to drive safely. Disregarding FMCSA regulations can also make a bus driver liable for a crash.

In Mississippi, the bus company may be responsible for a wreck in one of two ways, indirectly or directly. Indirect liability, or vicarious liability, can occur when a bus driver causes an accident while acting within the course and scope of employment. For example, let’s say a Greyhound bus driver has just left the bus station, located at 300 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39201, and is driving the occupants to their next destination. If the bus rear-ends a sedan stopped in traffic, resulting in passengers onboard suffering injuries, the bus company will likely be vicariously responsible for the wreck and ensuing damages since the driver was on the clock and transporting passengers pursuant to his employment duties. On the other hand, the bus company could be directly liable if the wreck was caused by a mechanical issue that the bus company failed to identify or correct.

If you or a loved one was riding on a bus involved in a collision, you should speak with an experienced bus accident attorney in Jackson. There could be unique legal considerations that must be taken into account. For instance, it the bus was owned or operated by a government entity such as the Jackson Public Schools (JPS) Transportation Department or JATRAN, your claim will be governed pursuant to the Mississippi Tort Claims Act. This law modifies the statute of limitation and liability standard that must be satisfied.