Because of its enormous size and imposing weight, buses have the potential to seriously injure or kill those who are struck by one in a crash. When you are harmed due to another driver’s misconduct or inattention, Tennessee’s personal injury laws may equip you with the resources you need to hold the bad actor accountable in court. Should you win your lawsuit, you may gain access to comprehensive damages, including funds to address your pain, suffering, and discomfort, as well as your mounting medical bills and lost earnings.
Our respected and well-established attorneys at Ponce Law live in and work for local communities in middle Tennessee, as we have done for many decades. Our tireless efforts have connected past clients with life-saving settlements to help them rebuild after a thoughtless motorist harms them. Partnering with a Goodlettsville bus accident lawyer on our team could give you a wealth of advantages, including the security of knowing that battle-tested professionals are working to help you.
The causes of crashes between a bus and a pedestrian, motorcyclist, bicyclist, or passenger car are similar to those in other scenarios. For example, an intoxicated person may get behind the wheel—in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-401—and fail to stop in time to avoid a deadly wreck with others on the road. Drinking and driving is especially dangerous for someone to do if they are in a large commercial vehicle, because the incidents they cause may inflict a greater amount of damage.
Likewise, a commercial motorist who does not maintain the proper training and licensure may make careless mistakes—such as failing to make a wide enough turn—that harm unsuspecting passengers or people on the street. Additionally, someone who drives a large automobile while speeding or texting may also be the reason a wreck occurs, because they do not have the time or attention to avoid this possibility.
For many individuals who have broken ribs, collarbones, or spinal columns because of these or similar scenarios involving buses, working with a Goodlettsville lawyer may be in their best interest. A skilled attorney could identify ways to argue for a higher settlement—such as by pointing to the at-fault company’s unethical hiring practices—and preserve the injured person’s rights to take legal action.
Suing those who hurt you or killed your loved one could bring you closer to finding closure and accessing the resources you need to move forward. When you are considering taking this step, it may be wise to consult with a knowledgeable bus accident attorney in Goodlettsville who can help you identify and follow the applicable filing deadlines. As Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104 discusses, you may only have up to one year to bring a court case against the responsible party—whether it is a driver, company, or manufacturer.
That said, exceptions may apply that could give you additional—or less—time to take this step, and the law may afford you more time to recover compensation for damage to your property (like your vehicle). A seasoned legal advocate could also help you anticipate possible defenses—like contributory negligence—that the other person or agency may raise. The lawyer could also shed light on how limits on non-economic damages—such as pain, suffering, and inconvenience, found in Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-39-102—may apply to your case and strategize about how to maximize your payout.
Choosing to bring a legal claim against those whose actions injured you can be a significant and emboldening step, allowing you to speak your truth and potentially help others from experiencing similar harm. As you embark on this important step in your journey for justice, consider the resources a trained attorney can provide you, and the immense relief you may feel at being able to hand over the legal matters to someone you can trust.
At Ponce Law, we aggressively pursue fair outcomes for those who are hurting because of the wrongful actions of another, such as a poorly-trained or thoughtless driver. Reach out to us today to set up a time to meet with a Goodlettsville bus accident lawyer to discuss your legal rights and options.