Albuquerque Bus Accident Lawyer

Bus services - both public and private - can offer a great way to get around a busy city like Albuquerque, New Mexico. In theory, bus rides should be one of the safest forms of transportation since services and bus drivers must comply with heightened safety requirements. However, all it takes is one mistake, one miscalculation, or one decision to ignore safety protocols to cause a catastrophic bus accident.

If you’ve suffered injuries or experienced the wrongful death of a loved one in an Albuquerque bus accident, call the Albuquerque personal injury lawyers at Singleton Schreiber. 

You have rights as a victim, which can include the opportunity to take legal action in pursuit of damages for your medical expenses, disability, property damage, and emotional trauma. Working with our award-winning Albuquerque bus accident lawyers can help you maximize your recovery.

We offer a complimentary case evaluation. Contact our law office in Albuquerque to discover why you’ll want our top-rated personal injury law firm to take charge of your bus accident lawsuit. 

What Causes Most Bus Accidents in Albuquerque?

Bus accidents in Albuquerque are often the result of preventable mistakes. Drivers for services like ABQ RIDE, Greyhound, Rio Metro, and Amtrak Thruway are expected to follow strict safety regulations under New Mexico law. 

These regulations cover everything from vehicle maintenance and routine inspections to driver qualifications and limits on driving hours. When companies or drivers ignore or overlook these safety measures, serious crashes can occur. Many bus accidents happen when these critical safety rules are violated.

Some of the most specific causes of bus accidents include:

• Bus driver errors, including speeding, distracted driving, unsafe lane changes, blind spot errors, drug and alcohol use, braking errors, drowsy driving, and improper stopping
• Negligent bus maintenance resulting in brake failure, tire problems, engine failure, and electrical failure
• Improperly licensed and/or trained bus drivers
• Vehicle defects
• Road defects, including potholes, obstructed signage, and uneven pavement
• Bad weather conditions

Buses are common carriers in the state of New Mexico, which means that bus services and bus drivers have to exercise greater care than your average driver. In New Mexico, the “common carrier” relationship gives ries to a legal duty to protect passengers from harm. As a result, even minor mistakes or violations could be considered negligent and, in turn, mean that the bus company is liable if there’s a crash.

How Do I Get Compensation For My Bus Accident Injuries?

Bus accidents can be catastrophic, especially for pedestrians, bicyclists, and occupants of other vehicles. While buses - particularly school buses - are designed to offer additional protection to their occupants, bus passengers can also suffer life-changing physical injuries in a collision.

It’s not uncommon for Albuquerque bus accident victims to suffer bone fractures, nerve damage, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns, amputated limbs, and other debilitating trauma. These types of injuries can have immediate and, often, life-long consequences. Fortunately, you can seek compensation from anyone whose negligent or wrongful actions caused your bus accident, including a bus driver, a bus company, Albuquerque Public Schools, or even a negligent third party.

You’ll have to go through the at-fault party’s insurance company first. You can file a claim to recover benefits up to their policy limits. Buses are typically required to maintain higher standards than operators of passenger vehicles.

If your bus accident damages are greater than the insurance benefits available to you, additional compensation can potentially be sought through a civil bus accident lawsuit.

Whether you go through insurance or file a lawsuit, potential damages in a bus accident claim can include money for:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and benefits
• Disability
• Property damage
• Rehabilitation
• Funeral expenses if an Albuquerque bus accident is fatal
• Chronic physical pain
• Disfigurement 
• Loss of consortium
• Reduced quality of life
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Inconvenience

You might also be entitled to punitive damages if your bus accident lawsuit gets to trial. A Bernalillo County jury can award punitive damages when there’s clear evidence that a defendant acted with malice or was grossly negligent in causing a bus accident.

What Happens If I’m Blamed For an Albuquerque Bus Accident?

The bus company will not prioritize your personal injury claim or your future. Instead, it’ll work hard to find any reason to sidestep liability for your injuries, costs, and suffering. This might include blaming you for the bus accident in which you were injured.

Under New Mexico’s pure comparative fault standard, a plaintiff’s damages are reduced when they share responsibility for their injuries. So, these claims of shared fault can seriously impair your ability to get compensation if you don’t fight back. The more responsibility you’re assigned, the less your bus accident case will be worth.

You can protect yourself against claims of contributory negligence by hiring an experienced New Mexico bus accident lawyer in Albuquerque to represent you. When you choose Singleton Schreiber, our team will launch an independent investigation into your bus accident, gather evidence and facts to build a strong claim, and devise a strategy to navigate claims of shared fault. Our personal injury attorneys will work hard to dispute these claims and, by extension, protect your ability to secure a life-changing monetary award.

When Should I Call Singleton Schreiber After a Bus Accident in Albuquerque, NM?

It is best to call us as soon as you can after a bus accident. New Mexico applies a three-year statute of limitations to most bus accident lawsuits, but you might face much shorter deadlines if your claim is against a government entity, such as the City of Albuquerque, the State of New Mexico, or any local public body. Under New Mexico’s Tort Claims Act (NMSA § 41-4-16), if a City bus caused the crash, you must provide written notice to the City within 90 days of the injury– or withint six months if the collision resulted in wrongful death. Missing these notice deadlines can bar your claim entirely, so taking action quickly is critical.

The sooner you call our Albuquerque bus accident lawyers for help, the sooner we can begin to investigate your bus accident, find and interview witnesses, preserve evidence, and build a case that forces the bus company to make things right.

We’re the top choice of Albuquerque injury victims because we’re trustworthy local litigators backed by national resources. Our case results include more than $3 billion in monetary awards. Now, we’re here to be your most fearless advocate after a bus accident, too.

Contact our law office in Albuquerque, NM, today to learn more. Your first case review is free.