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Edmonton and Alberta
Bus Accident Lawyers
MNH Injury Lawyers understands the devastating impact that auto accidents can have on both the victim and their families. An Edmonton and Alberta bus accident lawyer from MNH Injury Lawyers can help you prove your case and recover fair monetary compensation.
Retaining our services can help you in several ways. We will fight hard to ensure that the liable party is held responsible for your injuries and that you receive a fair settlement that you deserve. Most importantly, we can give you the chance to recuperate in peace without having to worry about complex legal matters.
How Our Lawyers Represent
Bus Accident Victims in Alberta and Edmonton
Buses are a common sight on the streets of Edmonton and elsewhere in the province of Alberta. Hundreds of thousands of people in Alberta rely on public transit and buses to commute to and from work and go about their lives. While bus accidents are relatively rare in Edmonton, they still happen too often.
The lives of those who were in a bus accident may change instantly. The sheer size and weight of buses can result in devastating accidents, injuring dozens of passengers and harming other people on the road.
If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a bus accident in Edmonton or elsewhere in Alberta, contact our lawyers at MNH Injury Lawyers. Discuss your case today with our knowledgeable and compassionate lawyers through our free case evaluation.
How Dangerous Are Bus Accidents in Edmonton and Alberta?
The City Operations Department in Edmonton reported nearly 400 accidents involving Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) buses, school buses, and other buses in the city. While bus accidents are relatively rare (1.6 percent of the total number of motor vehicle collisions in Edmonton), crashes involving buses can cause catastrophic injuries.
Several factors make bus accidents so dangerous:
- Higher center of gravity. The bus’ higher center of gravity makes the vehicle more likely to roll over onto its side or roof. As a result, passengers of the bus may be thrown around inside the vehicle and suffer severe injuries.
- Longer stopping distance. Due to their sheer size, buses have a longer braking distance. In other words, it means that buses need more time to come to a complete stop.
- Unsecured objects. When a bus accident occurs, any unsecured objects inside the bus can hit passengers, aggravating their injuries.
- The number of people involved. Since buses can carry dozens of passengers, motor vehicle accidents involving buses usually involve many people.
- Boarding. Many bus accidents occur when passengers are boarding or exiting the vehicle.
The lack of safety equipment. Unlike other vehicles that have airbags and seatbelts for occupants, there is no safety equipment to protect bus passengers in the event of a collision. As a result, passengers may be ejected from the bus or thrown around inside the bus when an accident occurs.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
There are many reasons why bus accidents may occur. It is vital to determine what caused the accident to understand who should be responsible for the collision and the resulting damages.
Some of the most common causes of accidents involving buses are:
- Distracted driving. Unfortunately, many operators of buses are not paying enough attention to the road while driving. Bus drivers are more likely to start using their cellphone when they get bored behind the wheel. However, taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds can lead to a devastating accident.
- Driver fatigue. Many bus drivers spend many hours on the road, often with little to no breaks. Spending the entire day driving can result in fatigue and drowsiness. Driving while fatigued increases the likelihood of a collision because the driver’s reaction time decreases and impaired judgment increases. Some drivers may even fall asleep behind the wheel, causing them to lose complete control.
- Failure to obey traffic laws. A bus driver may violate traffic laws intentionally or unintentionally. Failure to obey traffic laws may result from inadequate training or insufficient experience. However, a driver may also intentionally disobey traffic laws to get to the end destination sooner.
- Speeding. As mentioned earlier, buses have a longer stopping distance, which makes speeding especially dangerous. A bus operator is more likely to exceed the speed limit or drive too fast for conditions when they fall behind schedule. However, a driver who drives too fast endangers their passengers and everyone else on the road.
- Impaired driving. Driving while intoxicated is dangerous whether you are a car or bus driver. Intoxication impairs the driver’s judgment and negatively affects their reaction time and coordination.
- Mechanical failure. Unfortunately, some buses that operate on the roads and highways of Edmonton are in poor condition. Bus companies have a legal duty to ensure that all vehicles in their bus fleet are in good condition through regular inspection and proper maintenance. Mechanical failure can result in devastating accidents, especially if the bus has faulty brakes.
A skilled auto injury lawyer can perform a comprehensive investigation to determine what caused the bus accident.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Bus Accident?
If you were involved in a bus accident, you must prove someone else’s negligence to recover damages. However, determining liability is more complicated in bus accidents because there may be multiple potentially at-fault parties.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you might hold these parties responsible:
- The bus operator. If a bus driver’s negligent actions resulted in the accident, you can hold the driver liable for resulting damages.
- Another driver. Bus operators are not at fault for 100 percent of all bus accidents. If the other driver involved in the collision was negligent, you can hold the driver liable.
- A private bus company. If the accident involves a bus operated by a private company, the injured victim may hold the company responsible for the collision.
- A government agency. If the accident involves a bus operated by a government entity, the agency may be liable for the resulting injuries and losses.
- Manufacturer of the bus or its parts. If mechanical failures caused by defects in the bus or its parts resulted in the accident, you can hold the manufacturer responsible for all of your injuries and damages.
- Maintenance crews. Sometimes, a bus accident occurs because of inadequately maintained vehicle parts. When such collisions occur due to improper maintenance, you can hold the person or company responsible for maintaining the vehicle at fault for your damages.
In most cases, an in-depth investigation must determine all potentially liable parties. Often, there may be several at-fault parties in bus accidents.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Edmonton Bus Accidents
When are bus accidents more likely to happen?
According to the National Library of Medicine, certain factors can increase the severity of bus accidents.
The study revealed that these factors can make bus accidents more likely:
- The bus operator is a young and inexperienced driver (under the age of 25);
- The bus operator is a senior driver (over the age of 55 or 65);
- The posted speed limit on the road or highway is very high or very low (65 mph or higher or below 20 mph);
- The bus is proceeding through an intersection; and
- The bus operator gets distracted or engages in risky driving.
While the above-mentioned factors may increase the occurrence of bus accidents, collisions involving buses may happen anywhere and at any time.
What bus companies operate in Edmonton?
There are many types of buses that operate on the roads and highways of Edmonton. Buses operated in the city include those used for public transportation of passengers and those owned by private companies.
The following entities and bus companies are serving Edmonton:
- Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) buses, which include more than 1,000 buses
- Ebus
- Rider Express
- Cold Shot
- Red Arrow
- KCTI Travels
- Nagel Coaches Ltd.
- The Canada Bus, which filled a gap in bus services in Edmonton after Greyhound halted operations in the city
- Party buses
- Charter buses
- School buses
Regardless of the type of the bus, accidents involving buses can result in devastating consequences.
What are the most common injuries that bus accident victims suffer?
Accidents involving buses can lead to severe consequences and catastrophic injuries.
Depending on the force of impact, the number of vehicles involved, and the speed of the bus, victims of a bus accident may suffer:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Leg injuries
- Broken bones or fractures
- Loss of a limb
- Crush injuries
- Scars
- Burn injuries
- Bruises, sprains, and lacerations
No matter what kind of injuries you suffered in a bus accident, you might have the right to financial compensation. Consider discussing your case with an Edmonton and Alberta bus accident lawyer to evaluate how much you can recover and explore your available compensation options.
Can you seek compensation for your injuries in a bus accident?
If another party is at fault for your injuries suffered in a bus accident, you might pursue compensation by filing a claim against the negligent party. However, determining liability can be a complicated task on its own, which is why you might want to consult with an experienced lawyer to help you identify liable parties and determine the full extent of your injuries.
When seeking compensation after a bus accident, you may have to deal with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Usually, insurance companies want to settle a victim’s bus accident claim quickly by making a low settlement offer.
However, never accept the insurance company’s settlement offer or sign any documents before you consult our accident lawyers. We can help you understand how much your bus accident case is worth so you receive the compensation you deserve.
What compensation can you seek after a bus accident?
Recoverable damages for bus accident victims depend on the circumstances of the accident, the severity of injuries, the impact of the injuries on the victim’s life, and many other factors.
Depending on the facts in your bus accident case, you might recover compensation for:
- Loss of wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Inconvenience
- Mental anguish
The insurance company may pay some of those damages and losses. However, it may not voluntarily cover all of your losses and damages. That is why many bus accident victims choose to hire us to negotiate a better settlement or file a lawsuit to obtain maximum compensation.
If you suffered an injury serious
enough to disrupt your career and
your daily life,
MNH Injury Lawyers can help you seek appropriate compensation for:
-
Pain and suffering:
This refers to physical and psychological pain caused by the accident and injuries, including trauma and the impact of those injuries. -
Loss of earnings:
Your injury prevented you from working while you recovered. This costs you the wages that you and your family depend on. -
Future loss of working capacity:
Your permanent injury is so severe that you can no longer maintain your standard of living, work at your old job, or earn the same salary as you did before or you lose out on opportunities for extra income such as overtime that you earned before the injuries. -
Loss of homemaking capacity:
The accident has impacted your ability to provide for household responsibilities. -
Cost of Future Care:
The accident has resulted in the need for future treatment and medical care. -
Other expenses including out of pocket expenses:
There may be other financial losses for which you can seek compensation, depending on the specifics of your case. MNH Injury Lawyers can help you identify these items.
Why Hire an Edmonton and Alberta Bus Accident Lawyer at MNH Injury Lawyers?
In many cases, bus accident victims do not obtain fair and full compensation for their injuries when a skilled lawyer does not represent them. Bus companies take all steps necessary to protect their bottom line and avoid liability for accidents. That complicates winning a case as a bus accident victim without a Personal Injury Lawyer.
Our Edmonton and Alberta bus accident lawyers at MNH Injury Lawyers have the required experience and resources to take on some of the biggest bus companies and government entities in Edmonton and elsewhere in Alberta to fight for the compensation our clients deserve. It is also critical to begin gathering evidence and building your case as soon as possible to preserve evidence.
This may challenge someone receiving medical treatment and recovering from their injuries after the bus accident. That is why our knowledgeable lawyers at MNH Injury Lawyers can assist you with the legal aspects of your claim and fight for fair compensation for your losses and damages.
In some cases, you may need to take your bus accident case to court to secure maximum compensation. That is where you need a skilled litigator and negotiator who can present your case in court in the most convincing manner possible.
We can review your case and advise you about your legal options to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Get a free case evaluation with MNH Injury Lawyers by contacting us now. We stand up for the rights of bus accident victims to both public and private transportation companies and their insurers.
Call MNH Injury Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation
Call today to get started on your free case review: 
1-888-664-5298
Why Choose Us? Consider Our Proven Track Record
- Our lawyers have helped recover outstanding settlements for our clients
- Our lawyers have 22 years of combined experience in personal injury claims
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We empathize with and care about our clients Read Michael's story here.
