We Answer Your Frequently Asked Bus Accident Questions

Should I avoid riding on a bus for safety reasons?

Busses are commonly used for public transportation. While there may be a lack of seat belts in many busses (including school buses), this mode of transportation is generally very safe. The large size of the bus allows it to withstand the force of an accident without bringing on many injuries to its passengers. Bus drivers are also highly trained to operate these vehicles with very high safety standards in mind at all times. 

How do bus accidents usually occur?

While busses are generally a safe mode of transportation, accidents do occur. Many times, it’s due to a distracted driver. Bus drivers will sometimes lose focus of the road ahead if a passenger causes a major distraction. Of course, accidents also occur when other vehicles on the road are responsible for causing an accident with the bus. 

How long do I have to file a claim against the bus regarding an accident in Oregon?

In the state of Oregon, you have 180 days to file a Tort Claim notice against a public body. 

How do I prove who was at fault for a bus accident?

This is one of the most important questions that you can ask after a bus accident. Proving fault will directly impact how medical bills and other expenses get paid out for those with injuries and damages. Unfortunately, determining fault in a bus accident can be very difficult. You need an experienced personal injury attorney to conduct a thorough investigation. This will include an analysis of the police report, interview with witnesses and even a thorough examination of the accident site itself. Putting all of these pieces together is the key to unlocking the facts of the accident. 

Who will pay for any expenses that occur due to an injury that I sustained during a bus accident?

If you have personal injury protection insurance, this will be the first thing that you will likely utilize to cover things like medical expenses and lost wages. If you don’t have personal injury protection insurance, it will depend on who caused the accident. If it was the bus driver who caused the accident, his or her employer will likely cover the costs. If it was another driver on the road, it may be his or her insurance carrier that covers expenses. Please keep in mind that Oregon is a “fault” car accident state. This means that the person who caused the accident is responsible for any of the harm that resulted from the accident. 

What if the bus was government-owned? Can I still sue?

Many busses are owned by local or state governments when you are talking about public transportation within a city. While you can certainly sue for your damages, it’s not easy to sue a government entity. When you go up against a government-owned bus, you will definitely need an experienced lawyer who knows how to properly operate these types of cases. They can get very complicated, very quickly. 

What if my child was injured on a school bus? How do I approach this situation?

Similar to government-owned busses, school busses can be tricky too. You need to establish who exactly owns the bus. If it is the school district (which is most often the case), it will depend on the financial stability of the district when it comes to your compensation. If the bus is owned by a private company, then you would pursue the company that hired the bus driver who caused the accident. Once you have established the owner of the bus, you need to prove that the driver acted carelessly to cause the accident. This can be a tough thing to prove. Again, you will need a lawyer to fully investigate the accident for all of the facts.