ALEXANDRIA DASH BUS ACCIDENT LAWYERS

Photo credit: Drew Hansen, PATCH

Alexandria DASH Bus Accidents

DASH Bus is the public bus system for the City of Alexandria. It has routes that reach across the city, and also pick up passengers outside the border of Alexandria in Fairfax County.  The system carries over 12,000 passengers a day! Of the dozens of buses on the road at any one time, most of them are driven professionally, and safely. But crashes do happen, and people get hurt.

Bus accidents involving DASH buses are thankfully not too common, but not all of them make the news. Sometimes, these collisions are the fault of negligent bus drivers, perhaps overworked, or perhaps taking chances they otherwise should not. Other times, bus crashes are the result of negligence on the part of other motorists.

No matter who is at fault, you have the right to file a claim for compensation for your injuries. If you have been hurt in an accident involving a DASH bus, whether as a bus passenger or as another motorist, speak to an experienced Alexandria Bus Accident Attorney today, so we can begin making your case, protecting your rights, and fighting for your compensation. Call 703-879-5910 for a free consultation.

Causes of Bus Accidents in Alexandria, Virginia

Bus accidents are generally differentiated between those that are caused by the bus (and its driver), and those that are caused by other persons and motorists. When discussing the causes of bus accidents, you have to subdivide the crashes into these two categories, because each case is handled differently, from a legal standpoint.

Common causes of bus accidents where the bus driver is negligent

• Speeding

• Trying to make up time on a route

• Pulling into traffic without looking

• Changing lanes without signaling

• Turning too sharply, throwing passengers around the bus

• Turning wide and striking other vehicles

• Driver fatigue

Common causes of bus accidents where other motorists are negligent:

• Speeding

• Distracted driving

• Driving under the influence

• Fatigued driving

• Reckless driving

• Aggressive driving

• Driver impatience

• Changing lanes without signaling

• Ignoring stop signs

• Running red lights

Photo Credit: ARL Now

What you need to do if the DASH bus is at fault?

DASH is the name that is on the side of the buses. However, the buses all are operated by the Alexandria Transit Company. Alexandria Transit Company is a government created company, and it is wholly owned by the City of Alexandria. This makes any claim against a DASH bus in a bus accident, a claim against the City of Alexandria.

Claims against a government entity, such as a town or city, are governed by Virginia Code 15.2-209. This is sometimes referred to as the "local government tort claims act." This imposes a very strict deadline on claimants. Under normal circumstances, a personal injury lawsuit has to be filed within two years of the date of the accident. However, even before that deadline runs, 15.2-209 says that you have to notify the city within six months of the date of the collision!

If you do not properly provide notice, the city may be able to defeat your claim on procedural grounds, alone. You should always contact an experienced bus accident lawyer immediately following a bus accident, so we can help protect your rights, and make sure that there are no hurdles to your recovery.

What you need to do if another vehicle caused your dash bus accident?

If you are hurt in a DASH bus accident where another motor vehicle driver is responsible for the collision, then you have a right to assert a claim against that driver. This is a personal injury claim for your injuries and other damages. This is usually handled through, though not against, the at-fault person's insurance company.

As with any car accident, bus accident, or truck accident case, the law imposes a burden of proof on you to prove that the other party is negligent. As a bus passenger, you can't be at fault for the collision. However, just because the collision happened, doesn't mean that you have a claim. You always have to prove your case.

Investigating DASH Bus Accidents

In any bus accident case, we set our team to investigating the bus accident immediately after you sign up as a client. Our team of investigators and paralegals are dedicated to getting all of the evidence possible to investigate your case, and hold the negligent party responsible - whether the negligent party is the bus driver, or some other motorist.

Most DASH buses have cameras. However, a few of the older models do not, which are sometimes used as reserve/fill-in buses. As with any camera however, this footage is not maintained forever. It is extremely important for your attorney to preserve this footage right away. This is done through a preservation notice, which is designed to prevent the spoliation (destruction or loss) of evidence. Most DASH bus camera footage is saved for 30 days before it is overwritten by new footage.

If you have been involved in a bus accident, it is vital that you get the number of the bus. Not the route number, but the three or four digit number on the bus. This is how we can track the bus down, and save the camera footage.

Your Claim for Damages After a DASH Bus Accident

After you have been hurt in a bus accident, you have the right to file a claim for your damages. Damages is a term used by the legal industry and the insurance industry to represent all of the ways that an accident has impacted and impaired the various facets of your life.

Some of the most common elements of damages include:

1. Medical bills

2. Future medical bills

3. Time lost from work

4. Future lost wages

5. Damage to personal property

6. Pain and suffering

7. Emotional distress

8. Anxiety

9. Humiliation

10. Inconvenience

11. Permanent injury

12. Scarring

13. and more

Handling DASH Bus Accident Insurance Claims

The City of Alexandria (including DASH, or the Alexandria Transit Company) does not handle its own claims, relating to dash bus accidents. Instead, they utilize a quasi-government entity known as the Virginia Transit Liability Pool. This outfit handles all manner of bus accident cases for many regional bus lines, including Alexandria and DASH.

Virginia Transit Liability Pool
PO Box 71265
Richmond, Va. 23255

One has to be very careful in attempting to speak with this entity after a bus accident. We have found that their default is to deny claims, more so than regular motor vehicle insurance companies.

Contact a DASH Bus Accident Lawyer Today

The attorneys at at Blaszkow Legal are experienced at handling dash bus accidents, throughout the City of Alexandria. We know who we're dealing with, and they know us. They know that we are willing to go to court if necessary, and we will fight for our clients.

If you have been hurt in a dash bus accident, weather as a passenger on the bus, or as another motorist on the road, contact Blaszkow Legal today for a free consultation. We don't get paid unless you collect money, there is absolutely no risk to talk to us.

Get help from a lawyer today, and call Blaszkow Legal at 703-879-5910