Liabilities in the event of tour bus accident in Ohio

Tourism plays an important role in Ohio’s economy. Many tourists visit attractions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cedar Point and the Cleveland Museum of Art.Tour companies, bus companies and bus drivers make a significant contribution in carrying tourists safely to their destinations. Unfortunately, these trips that sometimes results in injuries and fatalities.

Under federal and most state laws, commercial vehicles such as taxis and buses are considered common carriers. Common carriers are businesses that carry people or goods for compensation or profit. Common carriers have a responsibility to exercise due care and high regard for the safety of their passengers. Commercial vehicle accidents do occur, however, and include bus crashes, taxi accidents and commercial truck accidents.

A passenger injured in a bus accident has the right to sue the bus company for compensation if the incident resulted from negligence on the part of the company. There are several entities that be liable, including the tour company, the bus company and the bus driver. The bus company can be held liable if they hired a driver whom they should have known was unqualified, or if they failed to keep the bus in a safe condition. The bus company may also be held vicariously liable for the negligence of the driver through the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds an employer liable for the negligence of an employee while carrying out the duties of his or her job.

If you have been injured in a tour bus accident you have legal rights. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Source: Findlaw, “Tour Bus Accidents and Liability,” Accessed Sept. 10, 2014