Bus accidents raise a special set of considerations which are distinct from other motor vehicle accident cases. This turns on whether the person who was injured in the bus crash was a bus passenger or not. If the person injured in the bus accident was a bus passenger, then the operator of the bus is a common carrier and owes the highest degree of care to keep the passengers safe. On the other hand, if the person injured in the bus accident was not a passenger but instead was a pedestrian or in another motor vehicle, then the conduct of the bus operator is measured against ordinary negligence standards.
The other special consideration to be kept in mind is that many buses are part of a public transportation system. When the bus system is operated by a governmental entity, local state law may have special requirements for suing the bus operator such as a special notice requirement, a shortened statute of limitations, administrative requirements, or special standards of proof. Anyone injured in a bus accident should be careful to hire experienced, well-qualified lawyers who can determine whether there are any special legal issues.
