Jonesboro Bus Accident Lawyers

Bus collisions, like other collisions, usually occur due to the negligence of either the bus driver or another driver. The driver may be distracted by looking at his phone or the radio, or he may be speeding. He may disregard a stop sign or traffic light and enter an intersection without having the right of way and get struck by another vehicle. Because of the extreme weight and size of most buses, they tend to result in more serious impacts than other collisions. Injuries will vary, depending on the speed of the vehicles, the force of the impact, and safety mechanisms in force. Typically, buses do not have seatbelts to protect their passengers during a collision.

As with any other auto accident, a bus accident lawyer in Jonesboro can help you assert a claim against the negligent driver in a bus accident and seek monetary damages for your bodily injuries and other losses. In Arkansas, parents may pursue these losses on behalf of their children in a school bus crash. First, though, you must prove negligence by showing that the at-fault driver owed you a duty of care that he breached and which caused you to suffer injuries and damages. If the at-fault party is cited for a traffic violation which caused the crash, such as failure to maintain control or failure to exercise due care, then you may be able to pursue your bodily injury claim under a theory of negligence per se where negligence is presumed by the mere violation of the traffic law. If the bus driver caused the accident, then you may also be able to pursue a claim against his employer under a theory of vicarious liability. Generally, a bus company will be responsible for auto accidents caused by the negligence of its drivers.

In most bus accident cases, you are entitled to damages for both your economic and non-economic losses, including medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. These damages are referred to as compensatory damages because they are intended to make you whole for your injuries by compensating you or paying you money. In extraordinary cases, punitive damages may be sought against either the bus driver, the bus company, or the driver of the other vehicle. What happens if the bus driver had been drinking alcohol and had a history of drinking on the job? In that scenario, a judge or jury may award punitive damages to deter others from endangering minors and others on the road. Punitive damages are intended to punish the at-fault party by making that party literally pay for the wrongdoing.

Whether you are seeking compensatory or punitive damages or both, under Arkansas law you must either settle your bodily injury claim or file a lawsuit within three years of the date of the accident. Many bus accident lawsuits are filed in the Circuit Court of Craighead County, Arkansas, which is located at 511 South Main Street, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401. Bus accident cases can be technical and complex due to the number of potential claimants and the involvement of commercial entities and insurance carriers, making it important to consult with a bus accident attorney in Jonesboro who is experienced in this type of litigation to ensure your legal rights are protected.