Have you or a loved one been injured in a bus accident in Norman? If this describes your situation, you may be dealing with injuries, medical care, extended time off of work, and more. At Warhawk Legal, we understand this can cause financial strain and be frustrating. Our Norman personal injury attorneys are here to help you fight to recover financial compensation for your pain and suffering.
For over two decades, our award-winning Warhawk Legal accident attorneys in Norman have been tirelessly working to defend the rights of our clients in Oklahoma. During that time, we’ve recovered millions in settlements and jury verdicts. Knowing how much the compensation we recover helps on a client’s road to recovery keeps us fighting for injured bus accident victims.
So contact the Warhawk Legal team to schedule your free case review and consultation. You can do so by booking online or calling (405) 397-1717. We never charge clients anything unless we win their case.
Why Warhawk Legal Is Norman’s Bus Accident Law Firm Of Choice
The Warhawk Legal team has served the Norman and Oklahoma City metro communities since 2001. We’ve developed a reputation for legal excellence, compassion, and kindness during that time.
Here’s why Norman residents work with us:
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- We always seek maximum compensation in personal injury cases. While other law firms may settle for less, our lawyers strive never to do so. In our firm’s history, we’ve won million and multi-million-dollar settlements for our clients.
- We know the underhanded tactics insurers use to try to devalue your claim. Often, insurance companies try to do anything to be able to pay victims less for their injuries. This includes disputing who was liable, challenging the extent of medical treatment, or pressuring you to take low settlement offers.
- We’re not afraid to take your case to trial. Our law team is more concerned with your financial and physical well-being rather than solely focusing on our track record.
- We win awards and receive positive reviews and testimonials. You don’t have to take our word for it – our nearly five-star rating on Google says it all. Additionally, our senior partner, Joe Carson, has numerous prestigious accolades, which include being AV® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, inclusion on the Super Lawyers® list, and membership in the Million Dollar and Multiple Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
- We make it simple to get started working with us. Prospective clients can get started and begin work with us for free. Not only do we offer a free, no-obligation case review and consultation process, but we also offer a contingency fee payment structure. That means we never charge clients anything unless we win their case.
Who Is Liable In A Norman Bus Accident?
Determining bus accident liability can be much more challenging than other forms of automotive liability. This is because who drives and operates the bus can affect the statutes that govern the case.
In Norman, there are four main forms of buses:
- EMBARK Norman is a fee-free bus service with five major routes throughout the city. The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority operates EMBARK.
- Campus Area Rapid Transit (CART) buses that serve University of Oklahoma (OU) students with four fee-free routes in the campus area.
- Greyhound bus line and station on West Main Street.
- Norman Public School busses that serve the Norman Public School district.
Private Buses
Determining liability for privately operated buses is simpler than publicly run buses because there is no need to navigate the legal processes of government entities.
Here are the potential third parties who could be held liable in a bus accident:
- The driver. If the driver was negligent or reckless in the operation of the bus, a suit could be brought against them.
- The bus company. The bus company could be liable for two reasons – failure to maintain or vicarious liability.Vicarious liability, a legal doctrine that holds employers accountable for their workers’ acts while performing their jobs, may apply to the bus business if the driver is performing official responsibilities at the time of the accident. This responsibility also covers situations in which an employee’s activities cause injury.
- Bus parts manufacturers. The accident could have occurred due to a defective, poorly designed, or malfunctioning part.
The deadline to file a private bus case is governed by the standard statute of limitations. According to 76 OK Stat § 5.5 (2022), “any claim filed herein shall be filed within two (2) years of the date of injury, death or damage to property, or, if applicable, within one (1) year of the date of a final adjudication on any legal action taken by the claimant against any person responsible for the injury, death or property damage, or be barred by limitations from recovery.”
So, if you’re bringing suit against any of the third parties above, legal action must be initiated within two years.
Public Buses
Liability for buses operated by governmental entities often has rules and regulations separate from negligence claims against private citizens or companies.
According to Oklahoma’s Governmental Tort Claims Act under 51 OK Stat § 156 (2022), “Except as provided in subsection H of this section, and not withstanding any other provision of law, claims against the state or a political subdivision are to be presented within one (1) year of the date the loss occurs. A claim against the state or a political subdivision shall be forever barred unless notice thereof is presented within one (1) year after the loss occurs.”
That means you only have one year to bring a claim against a governmental body instead of two. The City of Norman has prepared a guide on bringing a claim against the city, which can be found here.
If You Need A Compassionate Legal Team, Turn To Warhawk Legal
Partners Joe Carson, Jake Kouri, Laura Neal, and the Warhawk Legal team are always here for you in your time of need. We know that legal cases, especially involving buses, can get complicated quickly. That’s why we’re proud always to offer free case reviews and a contingency fee payment structure for our clients.
Get started with us today by calling (405) 397-1717 or booking your free, no-obligation case review and consultation online.