Compassionate Personal Injury Attorneys For Bus Accident Victims
Central Florida has many attractions for tourists. Interstate 75, which goes almost right through the center of Ocala, is one of the best ways for tour buses to reach these destinations. Chances are, if you are out early in the morning or late at night, you’ve run across at least one of these massive vehicles. The vehicle size, along with the hours of operation, are just two reasons why these buses often cause serious injury accidents.
The knowledgeable attorneys at Piccin & Glynn understand your pain and suffering. We are dedicated to assisting accident victims, whether they have become injured in a car crash, medical malpractice or any other form of negligence. Our attorneys believe all these victims deserve justice and compensation, and we work hard to ensure both. You can get immediate help with your bus accident injuries by calling our Ocala office at 352-581-6174.
Understanding Negligence In A Bus Accident
Most drivers have a duty of reasonable care. Basically, they must obey the rules of the road and drive defensively. But, tour bus drivers, taxi drivers, Uber drivers and other commercial operators are common carriers in Florida. So, they have a high duty of care.
This duty also applies to the passengers themselves. The tour bus owner has a legal responsibility to break up fights between passengers, keep the walkways clean and otherwise ensure that passengers are safe. This duty starts when the passenger steps on board and does not end until these passengers reach their destinations.
Establishing Liability In Tour Bus Crashes
Until very recently, personal injury attorneys had to rely largely on circumstantial evidence to establish liability in these cases. But two recent technological innovations have changed the face of vehicle collision claims.
The Event Data Recorder (EDR) captures and records vehicle speed, engine RPM, steering angle and other important metrics. Unlike eyewitness or any other testimony, it’s almost impossible for Florida insurance company lawyers to challenge EDR data in court. Large vehicle EDRs are extremely complicated machines. It takes attorneys with vast resources, such as the ones at Piccin & Glynn, to download and use this information in court.
Most tour buses are also equipped with Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs). ELDs are connected to the ignition. So, there is a conclusive hours of service record. Attorneys know exactly when the driver was working and when the driver was resting. That’s a significant improvement over the old paper logbooks, which were rather easy to fake.
The EDR and ELD devices only tell part of the story. Even if the driver was technically in compliance with the hours of service rule, the driver may still have been dangerously fatigued. Most people are naturally sleepy late at night and early in the morning no matter how much rest they had the night before. And, as mentioned earlier, these hours are prime operating hours for tour buses.
Contact An Aggressive Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were badly hurt in a bus accident, you have bills to pay and you need an attorney who fights for you. You can schedule a free consultation with an experienced bus accident lawyer at Piccin & Glynn. We routinely handle cases in Marion County and nearby jurisdictions.
You can contact our Ocala office now by calling us at 352-581-6174 or by sending us an email.