Hempstead Bus Accident Lawyer

Every vehicular accident has the potential to lead to long-lasting and even permanent injuries to the people involved. The likelihood of such severe consequences increases when one of the vehicles is as large as a bus—whether it is a commercial tour bus, school bus, or any other kind.

If you are injured in a car crash involving any type of bus, get in touch with a Hempstead bus accident lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner a skilled personal injury attorney is able to start working on your case, the sooner they can begin fulfilling various legal requirements and working toward a positive outcome for you and your family.

Compensable Damages in Bus Accident Claims

One of the chief concerns that many injured people have in a bus accident claim is the range of damages for which they can seek compensation. In Hempstead, damages can include economic losses such as medical bills, lost wages both immediately after the accident and in the future, lost ability to work, and the replacement or repair of personal property such as a vehicle.

Additionally, an injured person may be able to seek compensation for more subjective non-economic harms, such as physical pain and trauma or mental suffering. An experienced bus accident lawyer in Hempstead could help build a comprehensive claim that covers every type of injury and loss a victim suffers as a result of a crash involving a common carrier.

How Fault—or Negligence—Affects Compensation

Responsibility for bus accidents is not always easily discernible—accordingly, neither is legal fault. Though one driver may have run a red light, the other driver may have been texting or speeding. In these situations, culpability for the accident could be divvied up between two or more involved parties.

Fortunately, New York Civil Practice Law and Rules §1411 stipulates that an injured party bearing partial blame for the accident that caused their injury does not prevent them from seeking compensation from another responsible party. Instead, their total available compensation would be diminished by the percentage of fault that the court attributes to them.

For example, if a person is found to be 20 percent responsible for the accident in which they were injured, the maximum compensation they can pursue will be reduced by 20 percent. It should be noted that, unlike many other states, New York allows plaintiffs to seek recovery for damages even if they are more than 50 percent liable. A knowledgeable attorney could work to lower an injured person’s share of blame for their accident and increase the amount of compensation subsequently available to them.

Call a Hempstead Bus Accident Attorney Today

A seasoned Hempstead bus accident lawyer has typically spent countless hours in the local court system and should be intimately familiar with standard procedures and priorities. These qualities could be advantageous in pre-trial negotiations as well as in the courtroom if a settlement cannot be reached. If you are injured in a bus accident, call today to schedule an initial consultation and see what may be possible in your case.