The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation oversees the management of trains, buses, and trolleys in the Philadelphia region. Just like large trucking companies, bus companies must comply with federal laws for the safety of all drivers on the road, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
State residents and tourists use the system every day to transport themselves all over the region. With all these transportation vehicles moving, the chances of suffering injuries from an accident with a public transportation vehicle, especially a city bus, become real.
A pedestrian can get seriously injured or die if the bus crashes into the person, and collisions between cars and public buses can also produce serious personal injuries.
If you have been injured by a bus in an accident, consider a Philadelphia bus accident lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC. We can listen to what happened to you or a loved one and share some insights for moving forward with a possible lawsuit.
Reasons Behind Bus Accidents
The causes of bus accidents can range from mechanical errors to driver errors to a mix of circumstances beyond both types. A bus may suffer a mechanical failure like a sudden loss of brake functioning, or an overtired driver may just miss a stop on a route, causing a collision.
Other causes of bus accidents may include poor driver maneuvering in tight city locations, weather conditions, difficulty in driving an overcrowded, overweight bus, and other areas of difficulty.
For a free legal consultation with a bus accidents lawyer serving Philadelphia, call 800-921-7227
Liability in a Bus Accident
Finding fault for a crash involving a public bus, two cars, and a group of pedestrians, for example, could be complex and difficult. Bus companies usually have special insurance, whether it’s a public transportation bus owned by the city or a third-party bus.
When you contact us, you can find out how a Philadelphia bus accident lawyer can handle your case and help you seek compensation for your physical, emotional, and property losses. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at 800-959-1444 to discuss your case in a no-fee consultation.
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Types of Bus Crash Injuries
If you have had a public bus crash into your car, there is a chance that you have suffered injuries ranging from cuts and bruises from being knocked about in the car. A more serious event could happen, like suffering whiplash or being thrown from your car from the bus impact. If this happens, a person could endure the pain and agony of broken bones, chest pain, or even possible paralysis.
Police reports from the accident may take weeks to appear after your bus accident. And during this period, you may be in a hospital, recovering from a crash. This is the time you and a loved one can start to seek legal representation to cover your side of the accident in the investigation.
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Filing a Claim or a Lawsuit
After your accident with a bus, you may have filed an insurance claim. When filing that claim, the claims adjuster will review the police report, the photos or videos from the accident, and any information provided to you from eyewitnesses at the scene of the accident. Using this information, the adjuster will determine which driver is at fault based on all this supporting information.
We recommend that you do not settle for the first offer from an insurance company after a bus accident. You may have medical costs from immediate injuries from the accident and assorted property damage to your vehicle. Other injuries may surface a few months later. You may suffer from an ongoing medical condition related to your injuries.
These injuries from the accident could keep you out of work and in hospitalization. All of this adds up to additional costs that you will have to pay upfront. A lawyer can help you accurately assess your losses to see if a settlement offer fairly covers them.
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Shared Fault
The state of Pennsylvania allows for shared fault claims. This means that you might be able to sue a bus company and driver for negligence in the crash. Their lawyers might argue that you are also partially to blame for the accident.
If you are found that you are partially at fault, you may still be able to seek compensation depending on the degree of fault that you bear.
The state of Pennsylvania also has a two-year statute of limitations for a person injured in a traffic accident to file a personal injury claim. If you do not do this within the time frame, a judge can dismiss your case and reject any calls for financial compensation.
Working with Legal Representation
Our advice is to work with our law firm to fully understand your rights in this accident. Often, these car crashes with a bus are not as cut and dry as the insurance company may want it to be.
For instance, a legal investigation may find that the bus driver has a previous instance of reckless driving. Information like this may apply to your case.
Work with our Philadelphia bus accident lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLLC to seek fair financial settlement for your losses. Call us at 800-959-1444 to share details about your accident.
Call or text 800-921-7227 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
