Whether hired for a divorce party, birthday, bachelorette or some other special occasion, party buses are supposed to be fun. When they’re involved in a crash, however, the injuries associated with a party bus accident can be severe.
While the actions of the bus driver are naturally going to be scrutinized after a wreck, the company that hired that driver may also bear responsibility for the wreck when it failed to use reasonable care. Party buses are advertised as safe options for revelers – but they’re not safe when a driver is reckless or inexperienced.
Negligent hiring can contribute to a party bus accident
Negligent hiring claims arise when a transportation company puts an unqualified or unsafe driver on the road. If the company ignored warning signs or failed to conduct appropriate screening, it may be liable for injuries that could have been prevented with proper hiring and supervision practices. Depending on the circumstances, evidence of negligent hiring may include:
- Failing to conduct a meaningful background check
- Hiring a driver with a history of DUI convictions or reckless driving
- Ignoring prior crashes or repeated traffic violations
- Failing to verify the driver’s commercial license or qualifications
- Hiring someone with a suspended, revoked or expired license
- Overlooking failed drug or alcohol tests
- Keeping a driver on the road despite complaints about unsafe driving or dangerous behavior
- Failing to provide appropriate training or supervision
Evidence such as employment records, personnel files, driving histories, company policies and maintenance records may all help establish whether the company exercised due caution before allowing a particular driver behind the wheel.
More than one party may be responsible
The bus company is not always the only potentially liable party after a wreck. Depending on how the crash occurred, responsibility may also rest with the driver, another negligent motorist, a maintenance contractor that performed improper repairs or even the manufacturer of some mechanical part of the bus that contributed to the collision.
An experienced attorney can investigate the circumstances of the party bus accident, identify all potentially responsible parties and work to preserve evidence before it disappears so that your interests are protected.
