Ottawa Bus Accident Lawyer

Were you seriously injured after being involved in a collision with a bus? Were you a passenger on a bus that was involved in an accident with another vehicle? If so, you may be wondering what your legal options are for financial recovery. Pursuing civil action or insurance claims could help you recover the compensation you need to get through these difficult times.

At SG Injury Law, our top-rated Ottawa bus accident lawyers can help. Contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Why Should You Choose SG Injury Law

Bus accident cases are complex and very often involve serious, catastrophic injuries. They may involve transit companies and governmental entities. You need a lawyer who understands how to handle these claims and has experience successfully resolving them. At SG Injury Law, our Ottawa bus accident lawyers have significant experience representing clients who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents, including those involving bus accidents.

Liability for Bus Accidents in Ottawa

For many Ottawa bus accident victims, one of the best ways to recover the compensation you need is to bring forward a tort claim against the liable party. Whether you were involved in a collision with OC Transpo, Para Transpo, VIA Rail, another Ottawa public transit, or a private transportation provider, if you hope to hold them accountable, your lawyer will need to carefully review the circumstances of your case.

Bus accident claims can be particularly complex, as there are many parties who may share liability for your injuries. Some of the more common parties who are named in Ottawa bus accident claims include:

• The city of Ottawa
• Safety inspectors
• Bus technicians
• Bus manufacturers and dealers
• The owner of the bus
• The bus company
• Other third parties

How Are Ottawa Bus Accident Victims Compensated?

There are several ways you can obtain the compensation you need after a bus accident in Ottawa. First, you may be entitled to no-fault accident benefits under the Ontario Insurance Act. Here, you may have the right to specific benefits no matter who is liable for your accident. These include:

• Income replacement benefits
• Medical rehabilitation benefits
• Attendant care benefits
• Death benefits
• Necessary travel expenses of family
• Home maintenance and housekeeping fees

Of course, if your injuries are severe, these are not the only losses you likely have endured. By pursuing your tort claim in Ontario civil courts, you can seek recovery of your pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages as well. Some of these could include:

• Lost wages
• Loss of future potential earnings
• Excess medical expenses
• Disfigurement or scarring
• Inconvenience
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship and love
• Property damages

Find out more about what your Ottawa bus accident claim could be worth when you contact your bus accident lawyer to discuss the specific details of your case.

Exceptions to Bus Accident Benefits Rules

Regardless of who was at fault, everyone in an accident involving a bus is entitled to Ontario accident benefits. If someone else was at fault, you are entitled to claim additional damages above and beyond the no-fault accident benefits.

There are some exceptions to the general rules regarding the availability of benefits. For example, under The Insurance Act and the Fault Determination Rules, for accidents involving public transportation vehicles such as OC Transpo or other buses, no-fault accident benefits are not available if the vehicle in which the injured person was a passenger did not collide with another vehicle or any other object.

Therefore, if you are on a bus and the bus stops suddenly (without a collision) you cannot claim no-fault accident benefits if you are injured. In Ontario, this is known as the “no crash no cash” rule.

However, in these cases, injured victims may still bring a negligence claim for damages if the driver or bus company is at-fault. If there is a collision with a bus and another vehicle or some other object, then accident victims can claim both no-fault accident benefits and also bring a claim in negligence for pain, suffering, and other damages not covered by the no-fault accident benefits.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious collision involving a bus, it is crucial that you hire a bus accident lawyer experienced in both no-fault accident benefits and negligence claims against at-fault drivers. If your Ottawa personal injury lawyer does not have significant experience in both of these areas you risk not receiving all of the care, treatment, and compensation you deserve and are entitled to.

Get Help From a Bus Accident Lawyer in Ottawa Today

You don’t have to deal with the aftermath of a bus accident alone. At SG Injury Law, our bus accident lawyers located in Ottawa can help you recover the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.

We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to all bus accident victims across Ottawa and nearby cities. Contact us online or call (613) 518-2416 today.