Ottawa Bus Accident Lawyers You Can Trust
The dedicated Ottawa injury lawyers at Burn Tucker Lachaîne dedicate our practice to fiercely advocating for our clients’ rights with both compassion and empathy. In the aftermath of a bus accident, you need skilled legal representation that you can trust, and we’re standing by to help.
Understanding Bus Accidents in Ottawa
Busses transport many people through busy traffic, and they’re held to tight schedules. In the process, some bus companies and bus drivers cut corners that lead to safety issues and increase the risk that dangerous bus accidents will happen.
Bus Accidents Statistics
Ottawa sees more than its fair share of bus accidents. In fact, CBC News reports that, over the course of two recent years, there were 140 injury-causing OC Transpo public transit bus accidents. Of these, 83 involved the bus driver hitting another vehicle. Further, when the injured person was a pedestrian or cyclist, Ottawa’s bus accident collision rate exceeded both Edmonton and Toronto’s.
Liability for Bus Accidents
When a bus accident happens, it’s often as a result of a negligent driver, but bus companies also bear a significant responsibility that includes:
- Maintaining a safe fleet of buses
- Hiring experienced bus drivers
- Implementing and enforcing strict safety guidelines
For their part, bus drivers are not immune from engaging in the basic forms of negligence that other drivers do, and their tight schedules can amplify the issue. Common examples of bus driver negligence include:
- Failure to follow the rules of the road
- Excess speed – including in relation to the road’s condition
- Exhaustion
- Distraction
- Impairment
- Aggression
What to Do After a Bus Accident
If you’ve been involved in a bus accident, there are several steps you should take to protect your health and your potential claim, including:
- Seek the immediate medical attention you need
- Carefully follow your medical team’s instructions and guidance
- Consult with a seasoned personal injury lawyer who has a considerable amount of experience successfully handling complex bus accident claims as soon as you’re able to do so
- Allow your trusted lawyer to communicate with the insurance company on your behalf and to skillfully negotiate fair accident benefits
- Stay off social media while your claim is pending
Bus Accident Injuries and Compensation
The injuries you sustain in a bus accident can be very serious, including these common examples:
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Fractured bones
- Burns
- Limb loss and injuries requiring amputation
Unfortunately, the immense impact of bus accidents can also leave victims fatally injured.
If you are injured in an accident involving a bus, you can seek compensation through the at fault party’s insurance provider in each of the following categories:
- Your medical costs, which may need to address ongoing healthcare needs
- Your lost income, which could include lost earning potential
- Your non pecuniary damages, including your physical and emotional pain and suffering, which can exceed your other categories of loss combined
You can count on your diligent bus accident attorney to ensure that your full range of losses are well accounted for.
Eligibility for Compensation
In order to be eligible for compensation after a bus accident – whether it involves a public transit vehicle or a school bus – you’ll need to prove the at fault party’s negligence as well as demonstrate the extent of your losses. These are important tasks that are best left in the capable hands of your accomplished bus accident lawyer.
The Role of a Bus Accident Lawyer in Ottawa
Your savvy bus accident lawyer has the experience, legal insight, and drive to build your strongest claim in pursuit of just compensation that supports your health and well-being post-accident. Your lawyer will engage in skilled negotiations with the insurance provider and will leave no stone unturned in their determined efforts to effectively and efficiently settle your tort claim. If, however, the insurance company isn’t interested in fair negotiations, your knowledgeable bus accident lawyer will be well prepared to skillfully address the matter in court.
The Claims Process
If you or someone you care about has suffered injuries that were caused by a negligent bus driver or bus company, your formidable bus accident lawyer will handily guide you through the complicated claims process. This includes identifying the at fault party’s negligence, establishing the extent of your covered losses, and negotiating a satisfactory settlement that addresses your full range of damages – or taking the matter to trial if doing so is the best way to protect your rights.
Throughout the claims process, your compassionate bus accident lawyer will take the steps necessary to defend your rights and obtain your rightful compensation. And they have the resources to do so, including working with top medical professionals to definitively address the impact of your injuries. At Burn Tucker Lachaîne, we welcome the opportunity to help you.
February 3, 2025 
Personal Injury 
