Getting out and travelling can be a great source of joy. Seeing new places or old places in new ways can refresh the mind and charge the senses. An organized tour is a good way to get out there and they’re generally a safe way to travel and enjoy oneself. While international tours are certainly available, this article will deal with domestic tours, specifically bus tours, as they are the most popular tours available in Canada. Buses are some of the safest transportation available, but even the most reliable modes of transport are subject to accidents, operator error, and equipment failure, and those can often result in injuries.
If you’re injured on a bus tour there is some important legal information you should be aware of. Buses are considered “common carriers” which is to say they transport goods and people in exchange for payment – they operate as a business not as personal transport. What this means is they are required to use a greater degree of diligence in terms of ensuring the safety of their passengers. Legally speaking, they are expected to act reasonable – obey traffic laws, not drive dangerously, and use common sense to prevent injuries. If they act in a way most people would consider unreasonable then there is excellent grounds for winning a judgment.
Depending on where you are injured on the tour there may be different legal entities who could be held liable for your injuries. One or all may have contributed in some way to what happened. The most common likely parties to be held liable are: 1) The tour company, who is expected to hire a bus company who would treat customers safely and with care, 2) the bus company, who is responsible for vehicle maintenance and the hiring of competent drivers, and 3) Any specific location that may have been part of the tour – for example if you are injured by falling at a designated tour stop that stop may be held liable.
If you have been injured on a tour, it’s best to seek the aid of legal counsel experience in matters of personal injury law. Ensure you receive the compensation you deserve by contacting Conte Associates at 1-877-614-0008. Based in Vaughan and Whitby, Conte & Associates works with clients in Whitby/Oshawa, and in the following cities in Ontario: Oshawa, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington, Newcastle, Courtice, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Port Perry, Belleville, and Peterborough.
