Earlier this month in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a truck slammed into the side of a bus as a result of a serious accident. Local news reports have video footage of the accident as it occurred because there was a camera inside the bus. According to one news source, the truck was approaching a bus near Central Avenue and Unser Boulevard. Footage reveals that the truck neared the left side of the bus before the accident occurred. The truck driver proceeded to run a red light and slam into the side of the bus.
The camera inside the bus showed the bus driver unfortunately getting slammed by the truck and subsequently smashing through the window. Luckily, no one besides the driver was on the bus at the time of the accident. However, both drivers had minor injuries. Furthermore, reports indicate that the bus driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Traffic in the area was at a standstill and delayed for hours as personnel attempted to clean up the area.
City Liability in Personal Injury Cases
The above case illustrates a possible personal injury lawsuit by the bus driver against the truck driver who slammed into him. However, in many cases, the scenario may be reversed when a citizen is injured by a public bus driver. Unfortunately, bus accidents can be a fairly common event, especially in big cities, where there is a significant amount of bike, foot, and vehicular traffic. When individuals are injured by a bus run by the city, liability may be imposed not only on the driver but possibly the city as well.
In the aforementioned story, if a plaintiff wanted to bring a suit against a bus driver who hit him or her, the plaintiff would need to establish a viable negligence claim. To do this, the plaintiff must show that the driver owed him or her a standard duty of care, the driver breached that duty, and the breach was the proximate and actual cause of the injuries and damages. Some examples of negligence include distracted driving, fatigued driving, and generally reckless driving. However, an individual may want to bring a suit against his or her employer or the city as well.
To bring a suit against the city, the plaintiff would need to establish that it was negligent in its hiring, training, or managing of the city bus driver. Some examples of this type of negligence may include failing to properly investigate the driving history or the background. If the driver has had previous accidents due to negligence, the city may be liable for its hiring of this person. Additionally, if the city failed to properly instruct the driver on how to operate the vehicle and maintain the bus in proper working order, this may rise to the level of negligence as well.
Have You Been Injured as the Result of Someone Else’s Negligence?
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed because of someone else’s negligence, you should contact one of our experienced attorneys at the Fine Law Firm in New Mexico. As the above case illustrates, in many circumstances there may be a series of parties involved, and often this can even include cities and municipalities. It is highly likely that if you bring a suit against a city or even an individual, that party will have an attorney. It is recommended that you retain an attorney to strategically plan and pursue your case. If you are successful, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your medical costs and possibly pain and suffering depending on your individual circumstances. Contact an attorney at the Fine Law Firm today at 505-889-FINE to schedule a free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Semi Truck Driver Charged with Felony after Rear Ending School Bus, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, November 9, 2014.
Investigation Continues into Semi-Truck Crash that Killed Four Texas Student Athletes, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, October 13, 2014.