New Mexico Bus Crash Kills Three: Know Your Rights
The recent deadly accident in New Mexico highlights why bus crashes are especially deadly and different than other types of motor vehicle crashes.
On July 15, 2018, a tour bus traveling to El Paso, Texas was involved in a deadly accident while passing through New Mexico. The horrendous wreck, involving four vehicles, killed three people and injured 24 others.
Fortunately, most of the patients involved only suffered minor injuries; however, over half of them were required to seek treatment at a nearby hospital, and most of those who underwent emergency care services needed overnight care.
If you were one of the victims of this bus accident, you would likely be entitled to personal injury compensation.
Why injuries caused by bus accidents are so disastrous
In the state of New Mexico, insurance companies understand that buses have the potential to cause some of the deadliest crashes possible, and this is mainly due to their sheer power and the number of people they can transport at one time. When you also consider the fact that most buses do not require the use of seatbelts – or even have them readily available as options for use – it is no surprise just how many different personal injuries come about from bus crashes. These personal injuries tend to include:
- Torn tendons, muscles, and ligaments
- Nerve damage and/or paralysis
- Broken bones
- Burns that come from either fires or chemicals
- Brain damage
It is no secret that bus accidents can be catastrophic and that the damages involved can be beyond repair. Monetary compensation may not be able to help you recover fully, but it may just be the next best thing to ensure that you’re able to live the rest of your life as comfortably as possible. To do that, you need to understand some of the different laws regarding buses.
The highest degree of care
Buses owe “the highest degree of care” to their passengers, as imposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This means that bus drivers need to possess skills that surpass even that of a professional truck driver. That said, the requirements mandated by the FMCSA are, unfortunately, often neglected, and therefore many bus drivers are not qualified to handle the lives of so many different people.
Another thing to keep in mind, as noted in the FMCSA’s “Interstate Passenger Carrying Driver’s Guide to Hours of Service,” is that bus drivers have limits for when and how long they may drive. Again, these limitations are often abused, and they must be looked into if an accident occurs involving a bus driver who could potentially be at fault.
Bus accidents are extremely different than standard car crashes, and you need to make sure you have a personal injury attorney who knows what they are talking about when searching for a settlement that is fair for you. Rob Lovett of Lovett Law Firm in El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico, is an expert personal injury attorney with an exceptional track record at winning injuries and wrongful death cases from auto accidents – and winning big. If you’re ever in a situation where you need a personal injury attorney for a case involving injuries from auto accidents, Rob’s your guy.
For more information on how we can help you get the compensation you deserve, please call Lovett Law Firm today at 915-757-9999 (El Paso, Texas) or 575-523-5555 (Las Cruces, New Mexico) to request a free initial consultation with our experienced bus accident attorney.