Bus accidents in Aurora create devastating consequences for passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists. These collisions often result in severe injuries or fatalities, leaving victims and their families facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma. The complexity of these cases demands specialized legal expertise to navigate the intricate web of liability and compensation.
You need an Aurora bus accident attorney who understands the unique challenges of pursuing bus accident compensation. These cases differ significantly from typical car accident claims due to the involvement of multiple parties, commercial insurance policies, and government entities. Whether you’ve been injured as a passenger, pedestrian, or another driver, securing proper legal representation protects your rights and maximizes your recovery.
Aurora’s roads see various types of buses operating daily:
- RTD buses serving public transportation routes
- School buses transporting students throughout the district
- Tour buses carrying visitors and groups
- Charter buses for private events
Each bus type involves different regulations and liability considerations. RTD buses, for instance, are owned by local government entities, triggering specific procedural requirements under Colorado law C.R.S. 24-10-109. This statute mandates strict notice deadlines and caps on damages that you must understand before pursuing your claim. The legal landscape surrounding bus accidents requires immediate attention to preserve your rights and build a compelling case for compensation.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Aurora
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving bus accidents remain a leading factor when bus operators take their attention away from the road. You’ll find drivers checking their phones, adjusting GPS systems, or engaging with passengers while navigating Aurora’s busy streets. These momentary lapses can result in catastrophic collisions.
Speeding
Speeding bus drivers create dangerous situations, particularly on Aurora’s major corridors like Colfax Avenue and Havana Street. When operators exceed posted limits to maintain schedules, they reduce their reaction time and increase stopping distances. The weight of a fully-loaded bus makes high-speed impacts especially devastating.
Intoxication and Driver Error
Driving while intoxicated bus accidents and driver error bus accidents occur when operators get behind the wheel impaired or make poor judgment calls. Fatigue, inadequate training, and failure to follow traffic signals contribute to preventable crashes.
Defective Equipment
Defective bus equipment plays a critical role in accidents. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and malfunctioning steering systems can cause drivers to lose control without warning.
Hazardous Road Conditions
Hazardous road conditions and bus accidents intensify during Colorado’s harsh winters. Aurora’s roads become treacherous with ice, snow accumulation, and reduced visibility. Potholes and inadequate road maintenance compound these risks year-round, making bus navigation particularly challenging.
Who Is Responsible for Bus Accidents in Aurora?
Liability for bus accidents extends beyond the driver behind the wheel. You need to understand that multiple parties can share responsibility when a bus crash occurs in Aurora.
The Duty of Care for Bus Drivers
Bus driver duty of care operates at a heightened level because drivers function as common carriers. This legal classification means they must exercise extraordinary care for passenger safety, a standard higher than typical motorists face. This elevated duty makes establishing liability easier when you file your claim.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Bus Accident?
Potentially responsible parties include:
- The bus driver – for negligent operation, distracted driving, or impaired driving
- Bus company liability – when inadequate training, maintenance failures, or unrealistic schedules contribute to accidents
- Government agency liability and municipality liability – particularly relevant for RTD buses owned by local governments
- Bus manufacturer liability – when defective equipment or design flaws cause crashes
- Other motorists – who may have caused the collision
The Importance of Investigation in Multi-Party Claims
Multi-party claims require thorough investigation to determine each party’s percentage of fault. You’ll need detailed accident reconstruction, witness statements, maintenance records, and driver logs to establish how responsibility should be allocated among all negligent parties.
Common Injuries in Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can cause severe injuries due to the size and weight of these vehicles. The injuries sustained in bus accidents can vary in severity, with some requiring extensive medical treatment.
Brain Injuries
One of the most serious outcomes of bus accidents is brain injuries. When passengers hit their heads against seats, windows, or other hard surfaces during a collision, concussions and traumatic brain injuries can occur. These injuries may lead to long-lasting effects such as cognitive impairment, memory loss, and personality changes.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are very common in bus accidents. If you’re thrown against the interior structures of the bus or ejected from the vehicle, you may experience fractures in your arms, legs, ribs, or pelvis. Compound fractures often necessitate surgical repair and lengthy rehabilitation periods.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Bus accidents can also result in spinal cord injuries, which may cause partial or complete paralysis. Conditions like paraplegia and quadriplegia permanently impact your quality of life, requiring ongoing medical care and adaptive equipment. Nerve damage and whiplash are additional concerns that can lead to chronic pain and limited mobility.
Other Potential Injuries
In addition to the aforementioned injuries, burns, internal organ injuries, and severe lacerations are also possible outcomes of bus accidents.
It’s crucial to have thorough medical documentation for every injury you sustain in a bus accident. This includes records of diagnostic tests, treatment plans, and prognoses. Such documentation serves as vital evidence when an Aurora Bus Accident Attorney constructs your compensation claim.
Understanding Bus Accident Claims Process in Aurora
Filing a claim against RTD or other government-operated buses requires specific procedural steps. You must provide written notice to the governmental entity within 182 days of the incident; a strict deadline that differs from standard personal injury claims. This notice should detail the accident circumstances, injuries sustained, and damages incurred.
The RTD bus accident claims process involves submitting your notice to the appropriate government office, which then has 90 days to respond. Claims against governmental entities in Colorado are capped at $150,000 in damages, a limitation you need to consider when evaluating your case.
Evidence retention for injury claims becomes critical from the moment the accident occurs. You should:
- Photograph the accident scene, bus damage, and visible injuries
- Obtain contact information from witnesses
- Request copies of police reports and incident documentation
- Preserve all medical records, bills, and treatment plans
- Keep a detailed journal documenting pain levels and daily limitations
Bus companies often conduct internal investigations immediately after accidents. The evidence you collect independently protects your interests and strengthens your claim when governmental entity bus claims deadlines approach.
Compensation Available for Bus Accident Victims
Economic Damages in Bus Accident Claims
Economic damages in bus accident claims cover your measurable financial losses. You can recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, and ongoing treatment costs
- Lost wages representing income you’ve already missed and future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to work
- Rehabilitation costs, physical therapy, prescription medications, medical equipment, and in-home care expenses
- Transportation costs for medical appointments
- Childcare expenses if your injuries limit your ability to care for your children
Non-Economic Damages in Bus Accident Claims
Non-economic damages in bus accident claims address the intangible ways the accident has affected your life. You can seek compensation for:
- Pain and suffering accounting for physical discomfort and emotional distress you’ve endured
- Depression, PTSD, mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium if the accident has impacted your relationship with your spouse
- Scarring, disfigurement, and long-term disability
In cases involving particularly reckless behavior, punitive damages may be available to punish the at-fault party.
Statutes and Deadlines Affecting Bus Accident Claims in Colorado
The Colorado statute of limitations for personal injury claims sets a strict two-year deadline from the date of your bus accident to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline means losing your right to seek compensation, regardless of how severe your injuries are or how clear the liability might be.
When your accident involves government-operated buses like RTD, you face an even tighter timeline. Colorado law requires you to file a formal notice of claim within 180 days (approximately six months) of the incident. This notice must include:
- Specific details about the accident
- Description of your injuries
- Estimated amount of damages
- Contact information for all parties involved
The 182-day rule applies specifically to claims against government entities, and you cannot bypass this requirement. Your claim is also capped at $150,000 in damages when suing a government body. An Aurora bus accident attorney knows these deadlines intimately and can ensure you meet every requirement. You need to act quickly after your accident, waiting too long can permanently bar your claim, leaving you responsible for mounting medical bills and lost income.
Wrongful Death Claims After Fatal Aurora Bus Accidents
When a loved one dies in a bus accident, surviving family members can pursue wrongful death claims from bus accidents in Aurora. Colorado law designates specific individuals who can file these claims, typically including spouses, children, and parents of unmarried children who have no children.
An Aurora Bus Accident Attorney helps families recover compensation for:
- Funeral and burial expenses – covering immediate costs associated with laying your loved one to rest
- Loss of financial support – compensating for the income and benefits the deceased would have provided
- Emotional suffering – addressing the profound grief and loss of companionship experienced by surviving family members
- Medical expenses – reimbursing costs incurred before death
You need to act quickly when considering a wrongful death claim. The same strict deadlines apply, including the 180-day notice requirement for government-operated buses like RTD. With 234 buses involved in fatal accidents annually according to FMCSA reports, having experienced legal representation becomes critical for navigating these complex claims and securing the compensation your family deserves.
Contact a Bus Accident Attorney in Aurora, CO
If you or a loved one have been injured in a bus accident in Aurora, contact our Aurora bus accident attorneys as soon as possible.
With a combination of a proven track record, impressive financial resources, esteemed legal reputation and a compassionate approach, we believe there is no better Denver personal injury attorney team than us.
