Every day, thousands of people are transported around the Denver metropolitan area via bus – from students going to and from school on a school bus to longer trips via the Regional Transportation System (RTD) or charter company. While bus travel is generally safe and accidents are rare, they can cause severe injuries when they do occur. Bus occupants, pedestrians, and occupants of smaller passenger vehicles can all be at significant risk. If you or a loved one have been involved in a bus accident and sustained severe injuries, contact our personal injury lawyers in Denver by calling (303) 771-5551 today.
Why Choose Dan Caplis Law?
The procedural hurdles in bringing a lawsuit against the RTD, insurance company, school district, or bus manufacturer can be tedious and difficult to navigate without the help of a qualified legal professional. If you do not properly follow that procedure, you may lose your legal right to compensation. For this reason, you should contact a Denver accident attorney who understands these types of cases and how to get results.
At Dan Caplis Law, our attorneys have over 35 years of experience helping injured clients and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on their behalf.
We are true trial lawyers, meaning when we take your case, we are prepared to go to trial if the other side refuses to treat you fairly.
You can schedule your free consultation with our bus accident attorneys in Denver at (303) 770-5551 or by filling out our contact form. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not charge a fee unless we win your case.
What Kind of Injuries Are Typically Caused by Denver Bus Crashes?
While bus accidents are rare, their consequences are extreme. To that end, people injured in bus accidents often face catastrophic injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Fractured vertebrae;
- A fractured skull;
- Spinal cord injuries;
- Broken bones; and
- Wrongful death.
Buses are manufactured to exacting standards, but they can still cause injuries when a driver negligently operates the vehicle. A few common causes of bus accidents include:
- Students or passengers distracting the bus driver;
- Inattentive driving on the part of the bus driver;
- The failure of other motorists to yield to the bus—even when the bus is stopped;
- Approaching a bus too rapidly when it takes a wide left turn;
- Damaged mechanical or safety equipment; and
- Inclement road conditions in including wet or icy roads.
Many safety obligations fall on the bus driver or its owner, but that does not mean motorists should not drive cautiously around buses. Though the bus driver should be attentive, motorists can take action to protect themselves and others by maintaining a safe distance from the bus and giving the bus driver the room necessary to safely operate the bus on public roadways. Safety—of the passengers on the bus and in your own vehicle—is the most important thing: you should never speed toward a bus.
How Do You Get Compensation for Your Bus Accident Injury in Denver?
As a matter of Colorado law—specifically C.R.S. § 24-10-109—anyone claiming to have been injured by the Regional Transportation District (the “RTD”) or an RTD employee who was acting in the course of his or her employment must file a written notice no more than 182 days after the date that he or she was injured. If the injured person fails to file that written notice in the requisite time period then he or she will be prohibited from filing a lawsuit to receive compensation for that injury.
However, depending upon the circumstances and who the liable party is this procedure and time limits may be different. If you have suffered any injury in a collision involving a Denver bus, it is in your best interests to at least speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can fully explain the nuance of your situation and help you understand the options available to you.
How to File an RTD Bus Accident Claim in Denver, Colorado
As previously stated, anyone looking to file suit against the RTD for injuries caused by a bus accident must follow the procedure set for in C.R.S. § 24-10-109. This requires the injured person to file a written notice with the RTD or the RTD’s attorney containing the following information:
- The name and address of the person claiming to have been injured;
- The name and address of the injured person’s attorney;
- A brief description of what happened and how the person was injured, including the date, time, place, and circumstances of the action or event the person is providing notice of;
- The name and address of the RTD employee involved if the injured person knows it;
- A brief description of the injury and the extent of the injured alleged; and
- A statement of how much money the injured person is seeking in damages.
The notice must be filed with the RTD or the RTD’s lawyer. That can be done by mailing the notice by registered or certified mail or by utilizing any method that would amount to personal service under Rule 5 of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
These intricacies may seem trivial, but they are imperative if you are going to receive the compensation you are owed under Colorado law. Navigating this system can be difficult for laypeople, and this is one of the many reasons that you should contact one of the Denver bus accident attorneys at Dan Caplis Law after you are injured in a bus accident to ensure that your notice is filed properly.
Call Today for a Free Consultation
Thankfully, bus accident injuries are rare, but their consequences are dire when they do happen. If the worst happens to you or a loved one, you should immediately contact our Denver bus accident lawyers at Dan Caplis Law. Our bus accident lawyers in Denver have recovered millions for people injured by RTD buses and school transportation buses and will put their significant experience to work for you.
Remember: your initial consultation with our Denver bus accident attorneys at Dan Caplis Law is free, and you do not pay unless our attorneys successfully resolve your case either in a settlement or at trial. You can reach our bus accident attorneys in Denver at (303) 770-5551 or by contacting us at our online portal.