Bus Accident Attorney in Chillicothe, MO

Bus Accident Attorney in Chillicothe, MO. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a catastrophic bus accident, take the first step in your recovery by calling Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or by contacting us online.

Bus accidents almost never receive equal attention as plane or train wrecks, even though the can often be equally as harmful and deadly. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Chillicothe, MO bus drivers and bus companies to keep us safe and follow the rules. When they eschew their responsibilities and disregard the rules it can have ruinous, sometimes permanent consequences for you or your loved ones. Your Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make certain that you recover the full compensation that you deserve for your injuries.

At Burger Law, our bus accident attorney team has more than two decades of experience defending the injured in Chillicothe and throughout Missouri and fighting back against bullies like resistant insurance companies and people who egocentrically do not want to be held accountable for their negligent behavior. Our Chillicothe, MO clients have put their claims and their futures in our trustworthy hands, and to date we have secured for them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their hard work, commitment, relentlessness, knowledge and experience to help right wrongs in personal injury cases and help Chillicothe, MO residents on their road to recovery. You should not have to lose wages, pay for ridiculous medical costs and also deal with the emotional shock of your injury just because somebody else disregarded the rules. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Chillicothe, MO bus accident, get in touch with the bus accident attorney of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation. We begin working on your claim straight away, and you do not owe us any fees until we win your case.

If you were injured in a bus accident in Chillicothe, MO because of someone else's negligent actions, discover how much your injury may be worth by filling out our personal injury calculator.

Do I Need a Chillicothe, MO Bus Accident Attorney?

If you have experienced injuries in a bus accident, we know you are feeling especially unshielded. After all, you were not the one driving and you got on the bus presuming that the adequate safety arrangements were followed. Chillicothe, MO bus companies and drivers have strict regulations they have a duty to obey, but sometimes they neglect those duties and they leave us to pick up the pieces. Because of the force that is often exerted by bus accidents, injuries can take years to truly heal from, may have lifelong consequences or in the most tragic instances can even lead to wrongful death. The Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will stand by your side so you are not required to face an uncertain future alone. When you hire us we start working on your case straight away, and work tirelessly until you receive the full compensation you deserve. We have experienced with every type of bus accident injury and know every trick insurance companies use to try and deceive injured Chillicothe, MO individuals and families into accepting less compensation than they deserve. Those Chillicothe, MO insurance companies are afraid of us because they know our bus accident attorney team takes on – and wins – the complicated cases. Call us today and let the compassionate, seasoned and relentless bus accident lawyers at Burger Law help you protect your family’s future and help make you whole again.

The legal process is complex and can be unforgiving to Chillicothe, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial experience of an accomplished bus accident attorney. We have more than 20 years of experience standing up to bullies and fighting the hard cases. When you hire our Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney team, we oversee every detail of your case. You can anticipate a seasoned and skilled bus accident attorney at Burger Law to:

• Investigate the accident site immediately. When you call us, we can have a bus accident lawyer at the site at any time during the day or night in order to acquire vital evidence for your claim.
• Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were nearby. As buses carry many passengers, there are typically other people who want the same answers and compensation you seek. Eyewitness testimony is a essential part of proving your case.
• Acquire further evidence such as tire marks, surveillance videos, police reports, in additional to important details such as how far the driver had driven that day or when the last inspection and maintenance was performed on the bus. Many different factors play a part in bus accidents, and your Burger Law Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney will determine the "whys" of the accident and who needs to be held liable.
• Use our network of Chillicothe, MO crash and medical experts to determine negligence for your bus accident injuries and work out precisely how much your damages are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are entitled to and we will implement our knowledge and expertise to make sure you recover it.
• Fight back against resistant Chillicothe, MO insurance companies who are more concerned for their profits than your well-being. We have seen every trick in the book that insurance companies use to try and weasel their way out of their duty to compensate you. When you hire us, you can be sure those ploys will not work in your case.
• Take your case to trial if the insurance company will not offer a fair settlement, we will use our expert litigation skills to win you a great financial recovery for your damages.

Additionally, our bus accident attorney team will be in your corner entire time. We take control of all communication, documentation and litigation so that you can focus all of your energy on healing and making your family whole again. You owe us no attorneys fees until you get maximum compensation. If you or a family member has been hurt in a disastrous bus accident, contact an expert and committed bus accident attorney at Burger Law today.

Who is Liable for My Bus Accident Injuries?

Since it necessitates so many people to run a bus safely, from manufacturers, to bus companies to drivers, you will first need to learn the cause of the accident before determining who caused your injuries. Fortunately, an accomplished and skilled Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney like those at Burger Law have seen every kind of car accident, truck accident and bus accident case and will be able to find out who needs to be held accountable for your injuries.

What Causes Bus Accidents? | Chillicothe, MO Bus Accident Attorney

• The age of the driver and their experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that beginner drivers under the age of 25, in addition to more experienced drivers over the age of 55 were more likely to be driving when a bus accident transpired.
• Driver action. While the same study stated that a mere 4 percent of bus accidents were because of a grave offense such as driving while intoxicated, a different study by the University of Michigan stated that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus crashes had committed driving errors, for instance, speeding, being drowsy or distracted driving.
• Driver fatigue. A good deal of bus drivers, especially the ones that drive for commercial bus companies such as Greyhound that require drivers to drive hundreds of miles in the middle of the night, become sleepy and can even fall asleep at the wheel. While most busing companies have regulations about how many hours a driver can drive during without a break or how often they have to take a break, those rules are often <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/23/us/greyhound-investigation/" target="_blank” rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener title="CNN"not mandatory or complied with.
• Road conditions. Given buses’ weight and the awkwardness of driving them, slippery roads or Chillicothe, MO construction areas can be especially dangerous for bus commuters. Sometimes a third party such as a construction company will be at fault. Burger Law's bus accident attorney will help you determine if that applies case.
• Negligence by the bus company. Bus companies are overseen by regulatory entities, but much less than other transportation industries. A 2011 study by the National Transportation Safety Board found that The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has only 878 inspectors responsible for reviews for more than 765,000 commercial motor vehicles, or a mere 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means inspectors frequently cannot keep pace with the quantity of inspections needed. Some Chillicothe, MO bus companies do not correctly repair their vehicles, causing them to be a hazard. Additionally, bus companies are mandated to make sure that their drivers are properly trained and are not overworked.
• Dangerous roads. Faults in the road and road conditions can cause a driver to lose control and crash. Some typical examples are:
  • Potholes
  • Cracked or uneven pavement
  • Defective or missing traffic lights
  • Obstacles on the road, for instance branches or vehicle wreckage
  • Inadequate lighting
  • Excessive grades

  The longer the dangerous condition has been on the Chillicothe, MO street, the better chance you have of holding the liable parties accountable. The negligent party may be a local Chillicothe, MO government, or a third party whom the government paid to repair the issue but either did not do so quickly enough or did not correctly repair it.

Once your talented Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney determines the cause of your accident, they will be able to ascertain who is at-fault for your injuries and how to proceed with winning you the best possible financial recovery. Below are some examples of parties who are generally found negligent in bus accident claims.

Commercial Bus Lines

Transportation buses such as Greyhounds are considered common carriers legally speaking, which means they have a duty of care to their patrons to maintain their safety. One facet of that duty of care is to make certain that their drivers are not being overworked. Despite insisting that safety is their principal priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not complying with its own rules in regards to driver fatigue. Drivers are technically required to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the bus to stave off sleepiness. However, the rule is not enforced and is rarely obeyed as too many breaks could cause financial losses for the company. A 2012 government study reported that 37 percent of all passenger bus crashes were owing to driver fatigue. Moreover, many Greyhound passengers have said that their driver was eating during the time of an accident, which is an example of distracted driving.

Ensuring that Chillicothe, MO buses are sufficiently inspected and repaired and that they have safety equipment such as seatbelts are also the responsibility of the bus company. A bus accident could be a consequence of a bus company either failing to provide routine maintenance or neglecting to fix a broken part or component. Older buses are especially prone to breaking down and bus companies must keep their fleets updated.

Finally, bus companies need to be vigilant in their hiring practices. All drivers need to be correctly licensed and trained, and should only be allowed to drive after passing stringent background checks. Your Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will conduct a complete investigation into the bus company's hiring practices and the person who was driving when the accident happened.

A Bus Manufacturer

Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have a responsibility to verify the safety of their vehicles and swiftly issue recalls in the event of a faulty product. If they approve an inherently flawed design or do not recall a component that they knew or should have known was not functioning properly, they are guilty of product liability. While they might try to place the blame on somebody else, your Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over 20 years of experience making sure liable parties are held responsible for their behavior.

The Chillicothe or Missouri Government or a Public Entity

Public transportation accidents can frequently be devastating because of the number of people involved and because they generally happen in metropolitan areas. While you can seek a financial recovery from the Chillicothe, MO government, there are specific procedures for doing so. Missouri has sovereign immunities for governmental entities and government employees than for the average citizen in tort cases. If you want to make a claim against a municipality or government employee, you must file it within 90 days of the injury with the Office of Administration’s Risk Management Division. That is why it is necessary to call a Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney immediately after your accident. Do not delay, call the trusted Burger Law bus accident injury lawyers now at (314) 500-HURT.

Missouri Revised Statute §537.600 grants sovereign immunity to government entities and employees except against a government employee who was driving a motor vehicle “within the course of their employment.” This means that you can sue or make a claim against a liable or thoughtless public bus driver in Missouri.

The Bus Driver

Even a properly licensed and trained bus driver can cause a crash due to recklessness. If they became distracted by eating or talking, did not pull over when they were feeling sleepy, did not pay attention to the Chillicothe, MO road conditions and driving laws while they were driving or made the dangerous decision to drive drunk, they need to be held responsible just like bus companies sometimes have to be. When you board a bus you trust that driver with your safety and your life. If a bus driver does not take that obligation to heart and causes you injury, you can be certain that the committed and relentless bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make them pay.

The Other Driver

Like any type of auto crash, there are often two or more drivers, and in some cases they each may shoulder a portion of the blame. Another driver’s thoughtlessness, such as speeding, driving while intoxicated or pulling in front of the bus too quickly can hurt you. If you were hurt in a bus accident where there was another driver or drivers involved, your skilled and experienced Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney will help you confirm if they are responsible and if you can make a claim against their insurance company.

School Districts

School bus accidents are the the category of bus crash we most commonly see in Chillicothe and Missouri. Nationally, school bus accidents account for 40 percent of all fatal bus accidents. While often the driver, bus company or bus manufacturer is liable, a school district in Chillicothe, MO may also be held responsible, for instance if they did not cancel school on a day when road conditions were particularly poor or they did not conduct adequate background checks when hiring drivers.

Below are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for bus accident injuries and other types of injuries:

• Do I have to Talk to the Insurance Company Before I Talk to a Lawyer?
• How Much to Expect in an Auto Accident Settlement
• What Happens During Litigation?
• Does My Family Have a Wrongful Death Claim?
• Proving Negligence in a Personal Injury Claim

What Compensation Can A Bus Accident Attorney in Chillicothe, MO Recover For Me?

The compensation you are awarded in a bus accident case will typically depend on the severity of your injuries and the repercussions they have on your life. You may have gotten a sprained wrist that just required a quick trip to an emergency room in Chillicothe, MO and a short time off work. Or, you may have sustained a disastrous spinal cord injury that leaves you disabled and in need of assistive devices for the rest of your life. When you hire a dedicated and accomplished Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will make certain that you collect a full financial recovery for all of the pain and inconvenience your injury has caused and will continue to cause. Missouri Senate Bill 239 defines the damages you can receive as:

• Economic damages, including:
  • Medical costs, such as hospital bills, rehabilitation, assistive devices and medications
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity

  We use our network of medical and economic experts to compute the exact dollar amount you are entitled to, accounting for inflation for future lost earning potential or future medical expenses.

• Noneconomic damages, including:
  • pain and suffering
  • mental anguish
  • inconvenience
  • physical impairment
  • disfigurement
  • loss of capacity to enjoy life
  • loss of consortium

However severe your injuries and however much they have impacted your life, Burger Law's Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney team will fight tirelessly to ensure that you are awarded the best possible compensation for all of your damages.

Learn more about our various practice areas by clicking the links below:

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Missouri
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Missouri

Call Our Chillicothe, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today

We have seen every variety of bus accident case and know the immense pain and catastrophic effect it can have on your and the people you care about. Your Chillicothe, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is empathetic, accomplished, trustworthy and tenacious and will use every bit of the knowledge and abilities we have acquired over the past 20 years to get you the the best possible recovery you rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a bus accident, do not wait another second. Call Burger Law immediately at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a free case evaluation.