Fayetteville, AR Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) Accident Lawyer

Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) provides bus service throughout the Fayetteville area and additional services for disabled and elderly riders who need transportation.  While the ORT offers a necessary service to Northwest Arkansas, that does not give the ORT license to hire unsafe drivers or put riders and other vehicles in danger on the road.

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident on an ORT bus in Northwest Arkansas, or if you were hit by a bus as a pedestrian, cyclist, or another driver, contact Fayetteville Ozark Regional Transit accident lawyer Ken Kieklak today.  Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, represents bus accident victims and the victims of other negligent auto accidents in court cases to get them financial compensation for their injuries.  To set up a free consultation about your ORT accident injuries, call our law offices today at (479) 316-0438.

Suing the ORT for Injuries in a Bus Accident

While the ORT may see safety as one of its primary concerns, accidents happen.  Riders on buses could be injured during sudden stops and jolts, and even the safest driver can be involved in a car accident.  If you were injured on an ORT bus or you were in an accident with an ORT vehicle, you may be able to sue the ORT for damages.

To sue the ORT, you must first show that the ORT’s driver was responsible for the crash.  To hold the bus company liable for the accident, you must prove that their driver did something wrong.  This means that if you were hit by an ORT vehicle and suffered injuries, you may be able to hold its driver and the ORT as a whole liable for the damages.

If you were injured as a rider on an ORT bus, you can seek compensation for your injuries regardless of who was at fault.  As a rider on the bus, you have no control over the vehicle and should not be responsible for your own injuries.  If the ORT bus driver was not at fault for the crash, you should be able to collect compensation from the at-fault driver as normal.  However, the ORT’s insurance policy may also contribute some funds to your compensation, since you were injured while under their care.  If the ORT driver was at fault, you may be able to sue the driver and the ORT together.

Whenever an employee injures someone in the course of their duties, Arkansas law typically allows you to sue their employer as well.  This “vicarious liability” holds employers accountable for their drivers’ errors.  If the ORT should have known that their driver was dangerous or had a history of accidents or drunk driving, you may also be entitled to damages for their wrongful hiring or retention of the driver.

Compensation for Injuries from an ORT Accident

When you take the ORT to court for a bus accident, you are entitled to claim any damages that you suffered because of the crash.  This means seeking full coverage for the medical expenses you faced, any lost wages you suffered, and your pain and suffering.  If a loved one was killed in the crash, you may sue for damages related to their wrongful death instead.

The damages for medical expenses and lost wages can be substantial.  The cost of medical transportation, surgeries, ongoing care, rehabilitation, and other medical care can be very high, especially if you suffered serious injuries like brain trauma or spinal cord injuries.  If the injury was severe enough to force you to take time off work or the injury caused you a permanent disability that makes it impossible to return to your job, you may be entitled to damages for the lost wages and reduced earning capacity.

These damages should be compensated in full.  Many insurance payouts will cover only a portion of these damages, meaning you may need to take your case to court to claim the full value of your damages.  If the ORT or their insurance company tries to offer you a settlement for your injuries, you should speak with an attorney first to ensure the settlement covers your full damages.

If your injury was severe, you may also be entitled to substantial compensation for the pain and suffering you faced.  This compensation is separate from the other damages and is not usually covered under insurance payouts.  Proving these damages is complex, but your attorney can help advise you on how to keep a record of your recovery and the ways that your injury interferes with your life.

If you lost a loved one in a bus accident involving the ORT, the bus company may be liable for the damages you face.  The lost services around the house, the lost companionship, and the lost income from a deceased spouse or parent can be detrimental to a family’s financial well-being, and this compensation can help keep your family supported after a death in the family.  Additionally, these damages could cover the cost of medical care, funeral costs, and burial expenses.  Talk to an attorney about who can sue for wrongful death and how much you may be entitled to.

For a Free Consultation on Your ORT Accident Case, Call Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law

If you or a member of your family was injured in a bus accident involving an Ozark Regional Transit bus, call Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law today.  Our Fayetteville Ozark Regional Trail bus accident lawyer may be able to take your case and fight to get you the compensation you and your family need to cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.  To schedule a free legal consultation on your case, call Ken Kieklak today at (479) 316-0438.