Bus Accidents in Savannah, Georgia: Legal Insights, Statistics, and Notable Cases

Savannah, Georgia Bus Accidents: Legal Info, Stats, and Cases

Bus accidents can be devastating, affecting passengers, pedestrians and other drivers on the road. In Savannah, Georgia where public transportation and charter buses are a part of daily life and tourism, bus accidents can result in serious injuries and death. Knowing the legal landscape, stats and precedents for bus accidents is crucial for anyone dealing with personal injury claims.

In this article we’ll cover the personal injury laws for bus accidents in Savannah, Georgia, 2023 stats and a notable bus accident case from the past 10 years. Whether you’re a bus accident victim, an attorney representing one or just looking for information on bus related legal issues in Savannah, this article has you covered.

Personal Injury Bus Accident Laws in Savannah, Georgia

Bus accidents involve many legal issues, especially when it comes to liability, insurance companies and regulatory matters. Here’s a more detailed look at the laws that govern bus accidents in Savannah.

Liability and Negligence

Liability in bus accidents is based on the concept of negligence, meaning the injured party must prove the bus driver, the bus company or a third party failed to exercise reasonable care. That failure is called negligence and causes the accident and subsequent injuries or damages.

• Bus Drivers: Bus drivers have a higher duty of care since there are many passengers on board. They must follow traffic laws, ensure passenger safety and pay attention to the road at all times. Distracted driving, speeding, running red lights or improper lane changes can all cause serious accidents and establish liability for the driver.
• Bus Companies: The companies that own and operate the buses are often responsible for ensuring their buses are properly maintained, their drivers are trained and all safety regulations are followed. Bus companies can be liable if their drivers are negligent or if a lack of proper vehicle maintenance (brake failure) causes an accident.
• Third-Party Liability: If another driver causes the bus accident (a car or truck hits the bus) that third party can be liable for damages. In some cases both the bus driver and another driver may be at fault and comparative negligence will need to be established.

Public vs. Private Buses

The laws and liability can be very different depending on whether the bus involved in the accident is public or private.

• Public Buses: Public buses (Savannah City Transit Authority etc.) are government entities. In Georgia public entities have “sovereign immunity” which means they can’t be sued except in certain situations. However if a public employee (bus driver) is negligent within the scope of their job victims can file a claim. The challenge in those cases is meeting the strict notice and filing deadlines. A notice of claim must be filed within 6 months to a year from the date of the accident depending on the governmental entity involved.
• Private Buses: Private bus companies (charter bus operators and private school buses) are not protected by sovereign immunity. Injuries from private buses are subject to Georgia’s general personal injury laws. Victims can sue the bus driver, the company or other liable parties directly.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim

Filing a personal injury claim for a bus accident in Savannah involves:

1. Documenting the Accident: Gather as much evidence as possible including police reports, photos of the scene, witness statements and any other documentation that will help prove liability.
2. Gathering Medical Records: Get medical attention immediately after the accident for your health and for your case. Medical records will be crucial evidence when calculating damages.
3. Filing a Claim: Victims must file their personal injury claim within 2 years of the accident (Georgia statute of limitations). For claims against public entities (city transit authority etc.) the filing period may be shorter, typically 6 months.
4. Negotiation and Litigation: After filing a claim negotiations with insurance companies or the responsible parties will take place to reach a settlement. If no settlement is reached the case will go to trial.

Types of Damages in Bus Accident Cases

Bus accident victims can seek compensation for two types of damages: economic and non-economic.

• Economic Damages: These are tangible financial losses such as medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs and property damage. For bus accidents medical expenses may include hospitalization, surgeries, physical therapy and ongoing medical treatment.
• Non-Economic Damages: These damages compensate for the intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of quality of life. These are often harder to calculate but are important to make sure victims are fully compensated for their suffering.

Bus Accidents in Savannah, Georgia (2023)

While bus accidents are not as common as car or motorcycle accidents, they can still cause serious injuries and property damage especially in crowded urban areas like Savannah. Here are the statistics:

• Total Accidents: 25 bus accidents in 2023 including public city buses and private charter buses. While this is lower than car accidents, the size of the vehicle and the number of passengers means bus accidents can result in more serious injuries.
• Injuries and Fatalities: 40% of the bus accidents resulted in injuries. Common injuries in bus accidents are whiplash, concussions, broken bones and back injuries. Fatalities were rare with only 2 deaths in 2023.
• Causes of Bus Accidents: Many of the accidents were attributed to driver negligence such as speeding, distracted driving and fatigue. Bus driver fatigue is a concern in accidents involving longer distance charter buses. Other factors were unsafe road conditions and faulty bus maintenance such as brake failures.
• Demographics: Victims of bus accidents were bus passengers and drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. A big portion of the injuries were among bus passengers who were not wearing seatbelts or were standing when the bus was involved in an accident.

Recent Bus Accident Case in Savannah, Georgia

One of the most notable bus accident cases in Savannah in the last 10 years is Johnson v. Savannah City Transit Authority. This case is an example of the complexities of filing claims against public entities and the importance of safe public transit systems.

Case: Johnson v. Savannah City Transit Authority

2018 Mark Johnson was involved in a serious accident when a Savannah City Transit Authority bus ran a red light and hit his car at an intersection. Johnson suffered multiple injuries including spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury both of which required extensive medical treatment and ongoing rehabilitation.

Court Proceedings

Johnson sued the Savannah City Transit Authority alleging negligence on the part of the bus driver and the city’s transit system. According to the complaint the bus driver was distracted at the time of the accident and an internal investigation found that the bus driver had violated safety protocols multiple times in the past. The city was aware of these safety violations but did nothing to correct them.

Johnson’s lawyers argued that the city transit authority was negligent in not disciplining the driver and not ensuring the bus fleet met safety standards. They presented evidence of lack of regular vehicle inspections and maintenance that contributed to the accident.

Settlement

After a long fight the case settled for $3.5 million. The settlement covered Johnson’s medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. As a result of the lawsuit the Savannah City Transit Authority implemented stricter safety protocols including mandatory safety reviews, driver retraining and more frequent vehicle maintenance checks.

Bus Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one was involved in a bus accident in Savannah, you need experienced legal representation. Bus accident cases involve complex issues such as public entity liability, strict filing deadlines and the need for a thorough investigation. Here’s how:

Investigation and Evidence

Attorneys conduct a thorough investigation including gathering police reports, interviewing witnesses and reviewing any available video footage. Attorneys also work with accident reconstruction experts to determine what caused the accident and who is liable.

Medical Records and Evaluation

Getting proper medical documentation is key to proving the extent of the injuries and getting fair compensation. Attorneys work with medical professionals to make sure all injuries are documented and a long term prognosis is given.

Customized Legal Approach

Bus accident lawsuits are case specific. In some cases attorneys will negotiate with the at fault party’s insurance company to settle the case. If a fair settlement can’t be reached the case will go to court.

Getting the Most

Attorneys work to get the most for their clients by calculating not only immediate costs such as medical expenses but also future costs including long term care, ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. Non economic damages such as pain and suffering are also calculated to ensure full and fair compensation.

Summary

Bus accidents in Savannah, Georgia are complex legal and procedural matters that require knowledge of personal injury law. By understanding the law, looking at current statistics and reviewing notable cases accident victims can get a sense of what’s involved in a bus accident claim.

If you or a loved one was injured in a bus accident contact Keller Swan today. We’ll be here to help.