Buses are a common sight in metropolitan areas like Kansas City. Many Kansas Citians use RideKC buses to traverse the city and travel back and forth between work and home. Thousands of Kansas City children head to class every weekday by school bus, not to mention private and commercial bus services that operate on the city, county, and state roads.
Buses are not immune to accidents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 229 fatal crashes and approximately 66,000 non-fatal accidents involved a bus. Often, when buses and passenger vehicles collide, the smaller car and its occupants suffer the worst of the damages. However, passengers on the bus can also suffer injuries.
If you suffered injuries in a bus crash, whether as a bus passenger or after a bus struck your vehicle, a Kansas City bus accident lawyer could help you seek compensation for your injuries and other damages. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at (800) 921-7227 to speak with a team member about how an attorney can assist with your case.
Bus Accident Liability
Bus accident cases can quickly become more complicated to pursue than car accidents involving only passenger vehicles. This complexity results from the ownership of many buses by government entities, such as school districts and public transportation authorities. Other crashes involve employees of private and commercial transportation companies like Greyhound. You might find making insurance claims and legal settlements involving these entities less straightforward than dealing with private citizens.
If you suffered injuries while riding on a bus, or the bus hit your vehicle, you could hold the bus driver and the entity that employs them liable. In some instances, government agencies have immunity from liability and lawsuits—known as sovereign immunity. Missouri Revised Statutes §537.600 waives sovereign immunity in cases when employees injure someone due to the negligent operation of a motor vehicle while on the job.
This waiver allows you to sue a school district or RideKC if you can prove that their driver operated the bus recklessly or carelessly, causing the accident that resulted in your injuries. Examples of negligent behavior include:
- Fatigued driving
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
You can submit a claim for personal injury and property damage to the city. According to the Kansas City, Missouri website, the city’s Claims Unit will investigate your claim and negotiate a settlement if it deems the city liable for your accident. The Litigation Division represents the city, city officials, and city employees in lawsuits. You might find it in your best interest to have a Kansas City bus accident lawyer on your side to represent you during negotiations and in any potential legal action.
As a bus passenger, liability for your accident might also rest with a third party, such as:
- Another driver involved in the accident
- Bus manufacturer
- Bus parts manufacturer
A bus accident attorney can help you identify all liable parties and damages you could recover and ensure you meet the five-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits set forth in Missouri Revised Statutes §516.120. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, for a free case review.
For a free legal consultation with a bus accidents lawyer serving Kansas City, call (800) 921-7227
Bus Accident Injuries
If you are in a passenger vehicle struck by a bus, your chances of suffering injuries are much greater than those of the bus passengers because of the bus’s sheer size and weight. You could suffer substantial vehicle damage and devastating bodily injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Organ damage and internal bleeding
- Spine and neck injuries
- Deep cuts and lacerations
That does not mean passengers inside the bus cannot also suffer severe harm. A collision can jolt bus passengers violently, causing whiplash and other shoulder, neck, and back injuries. Passengers can also suffer broken bones, concussions, cuts, and bruising from being thrown against the sides of the bus or the bus seats.
Kansas City Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me (800) 921-7227
You Could Receive Awards for Your Medical Care and More
If you have suffered severe injuries requiring medical treatment and time off work to recover, you could recover awards to help with your expenses and compensate you for your pain and suffering. A Kansas City bus accident attorney can help you fight for:
- Medical costs: These expenses include all your past and future medical care related to your accident. You could receive compensation for the costs of emergency room treatment, hospitalizations, surgeries, future follow-up procedures, rehabilitation services, and medications.
- Pain and suffering: This award compensates you for the mental and long-term physical and emotional consequences of your accident. Pain and suffering damages may include compensation for scarring, loss of a limb, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other ailments.
- Wage compensation: You can recover back pay for the time you have already missed at work and additional compensation for the time you need to recover fully. You may also recover for the loss of future income if you cannot return to your previous job because of your injuries.
- Property damage: If a bus hits your vehicle, you can seek awards to pay for its repair or replacement, as well as any personal property damaged in the crash.
If your family member died from their injuries, you could seek awards on their behalf, as well as compensation for their funeral and burial costs. You could also receive an award for the loss of the income your loved one would have provided had they lived and your loss of companionship.
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Talk to the Team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, Today
If you have suffered injuries in a bus accident, you might want to consider hiring a Kansas City bus accident lawyer with Ben Crump Law, PLLC. Suing a government entity such as RideKC or a school district, or a large bus company like Greyhound might seem like a difficult task, but that prospect does not intimidate our legal team.
We will work hard to negotiate the best possible outcome for your case. If necessary, we will not back down until we see your case through to court. As always, we will not collect a fee unless we win money to assist with your damages. If you’re ready to get started on your case, call our offices today at (800) 921-7227 for a free case review with a team member.
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