Bus Accident Attorney in Independence, MO

Bus Accident Attorney in Independence, MO. If you or a loved one has been harmed 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 rarely ever receive the same attention as plane or train wrecks, even though the can oftentimes be just as dangerous and deadly. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Independence, MO bus drivers and bus companies to maintain our safety and respect the rules. When they break that trust and disregard the rules it can have devastating, sometimes permanent effects for you or the people you care about. Your Independence, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make certain that you collect the best possible compensation that you deserve for your damages.

At Burger Law, our bus accident attorney team has more than two decades of experience fighting for the rights of the injured in Independence and throughout Missouri and pushing back against bullies like dishonest insurance companies and people who carelessly do not want to be held accountable for their negligent actions. Many Independence, MO residents have put their claims and their futures in our capable hands, and in total we have recovered for them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their hard work, commitment, resolution, knowledge and experience to help right wrongs in personal injury cases and help Independence, MO residents on their road to recovery. You should not have to lose work, pay for pricey medical costs and also handle the emotional scars of your injury only because somebody else disregarded the rules. If you or a family member has been hurt in a Independence, MO bus accident, reach out to the bus accident attorney of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation. We get started on your case right away, and you do not owe us any fees until we win you the financial recovery you are entitled to.

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

Do I Need a Independence, MO Bus Accident Attorney?

If you were caused injuries in a bus accident, you are probably feeling especially undefended. After all, you were not the one driving and you got on board the bus under the assumption that the proper safety measures were obeyed. Independence, MO bus companies and drivers have firm rules they are supposed to respect, but sometimes they neglect those obligations and they leave us to pick up the pieces. Because of the force that is typically caused by bus accidents, injuries can take years to really recover from, may have permanent effects or in the worst cases can even cause wrongful death. The Independence, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will stand by your side so you do not need to face an uncertain future alone. When you hire us we begin working on your case straight away, and work relentlessly until you are awarded the best possible 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 Independence, MO individuals and families into settling for less compensation than they are owed. Those Independence, MO insurance companies fear us because they know our bus accident attorney team takes up – and wins – the tough cases. Call us today and let the passionate, veteran and relentless bus accident lawyers at Burger Law help you safeguard your family’s future and help make you whole again.

Legal procedures are complicated and can be unforgiving to Independence, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial capabilities of an accomplished bus accident attorney. We have more than two decades of experience standing up to bullies and fighting the hard cases. When you hire our Independence, MO bus accident attorney team, we oversee every aspect of your case. You can expect an accomplished 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 of the day or night in order to secure essential evidence for your claim.
• Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were nearby. As buses carry a variety of passengers, there are usually a lot of people who want the same answers and financial recovery you do. Eyewitness testimony is a important part of winning your case.
• Acquire additional evidence such as tire marks, surveillance footage, police reports, in additional to key details such as how long the driver had driven that day or when the last inspection and repairs were performed on the bus. Many different factors play a part in bus accidents, and your Burger Law Independence, MO bus accident attorney will find out why the crash happened and who needs to be held accountable.
• Work alongside our network of Independence, MO crash and medical experts to determine negligence for your bus accident injuries and calculate precisely how much your damages are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are owed and we will implement our experience and expertise to make certain you collect it.
• Stand up to resistant Independence, MO insurance companies who care more about their bottom line than your health. We have seen every trick in the book that insurance companies use to try and avoid their duty to compensate you. When you hire us, you can be sure those ploys will not work in your case.
• Take the fight to trial if the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement, we will use our constantly trained litigation skills to secure you a full financial recovery for your injuries.

Furthermore, our bus accident attorney team will be keeping you informed entire time. We handle all communication, documentation and litigation so that you can spend all of your energy on healing and making your family whole again. You owe us no attorneys fees until we win your case. If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a devastating bus accident, contact an expert and dedicated bus accident attorney at Burger Law today.

Who is Liable for My Bus Accident Injuries?

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

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

• The age of the driver and their experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that novice drivers under 25 years old, as well as 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 only 4 percent of bus accidents were due to a serious offense such as the driver being intoxicated, a different study by the University of Michigan found that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus crashes had committed driving errors, such as speeding, being sleepy or distracted driving.
• Driver fatigue. A good deal of bus drivers, particularly the ones that are employed by commercial bus lines such as Greyhound that require drivers to drive hundreds of miles at all hours of the day or night, become drowsy and can even fall asleep behind the wheel. While most busing companies have specifications about how many hours a driver can drive during without a break or how frequently they have to take a break, those regulations are often <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/23/us/greyhound-investigation/" target="_blank” rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener title="CNN"not required or followed.
• Road conditions. Given buses’ size and the intricacy of steering them, slick roads or Independence, MO construction areas can be particularly hazardous for bus passengers. In some cases a third party such as a construction company is liable. Burger Law's bus accident attorney will help you understand if that is true in your case.
• Negligence by the bus company. Bus companies are regulated, but not nearly as much as other transportation industries. A 2011 study by the National Transportation Safety Board found that The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has only 878 people responsible for inspections of more than 765,000 trucks and buses, or just 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means reviews generally cannot stay ahead of the quantity of inspections needed. Some Independence, MO bus companies do not adequately repair their vehicles, causing them to be dangerous. Additionally, bus companies are required to ensure that their drivers are adequately trained and do not drive too long without a break.
• Hazardous roads. Faults in the road and road conditions can cause a driver to lose control and crash. Some common examples are:
  • Potholes
  • Uneven pavement or cracks in the pavement
  • Faulty or missing traffic signals
  • Obstacles on the road, such as branches or vehicle wreckage
  • Poor lighting
  • Excessive grades

  The more time the hazardous condition has been on the Independence, MO road, the better chance you have of holding the liable parties responsible. The liable party may be a local Independence, MO government, or a third party whom the government hired to fix the issue but either did not do so soon enough or did not properly repair it.

Once your knowledgeable Independence, MO bus accident attorney confirm the reasons for your accident, they will be able to establish who is responsible for your injuries and how to take the next steps toward delivering you a maximum financial recovery. Below are some examples of parties who are often found negligent in bus accident claims.

Commercial Bus Lines

Transport buses such as Greyhounds are considered common carriers under the law, which means they have a duty of care to their patrons to look out for their safety. One aspect of that duty of care is to make sure that their drivers are not being overworked. In despite of insisting that safety is their utmost priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not obeying its own rules in regards to driver fatigue. Drivers are theoretically mandated to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the vehicle to inhibit drowsiness. However, the rule is not enforced and is not often obeyed as too many breaks could lead to financial losses for the company. A 2012 government study reported that 37 percent of all passenger bus crashes were caused by driver fatigue. Additionally, many Greyhound customers have said that their driver was eating during the time of a crash, which is an example of distracted driving.

Making sure that Independence, MO buses are properly inspected and maintained and that safety equipment such as seatbelts are present and up-to-date are also the responsibility of the bus company. A bus accident may be a consequence of a bus company either neglecting to conduct routine maintenance or neglecting to fix a broken part or component. Older buses are particularly predisposed to breaking down and bus companies must keep their fleets updated.

Lastly, bus companies cannot use negligent hiring practices. All drivers need to be adequately licensed and trained, and should only be able to drive after passing strict background checks. Your Independence, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will carry out a full investigation into the bus company's hiring practices and the person who was driving when the accident transpired.

A Bus Manufacturer

Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have a duty to verify the safety of their vehicles and quickly announce recalls in the event of a faulty product. If they approve an inherently faulty design or do not recall a component that they knew or should have known was not functioning correctly, they are guilty of product liability. While they may try to shift the blame to somebody else, your Independence, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over two decades of experience making sure at-fault parties are held responsible for their behavior.

The Independence or Missouri Government or a Public Entity

Public transportation accidents can frequently be catastrophic because of the amount of people involved and because they generally transpire in densely populated areas. While you can make a claim against the Independence, MO government, there are specific procedures for doing so. Missouri has sovereign immunities for governmental bodies and government employees than for the average citizen in injury liability cases. If you seek to make a claim against a municipality or government employee, you must file it within 90 days of the accident with the Office of Administration’s Risk Management Division. That is why it is essential to reach out to a Independence, MO bus accident attorney immediately after your accident. There is no time to wait, 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 reckless public bus driver in Missouri.

The Bus Driver

Even a properly licensed and trained bus driver can cause a wreck through driving mistakes. If they became distracted by eating or texting, did not pull over when they were feeling sleepy, did not pay attention to the Independence, MO road conditions and driving laws while they were driving or made the foolish decision to drive drunk, they need to be held accountable just like bus companies sometimes have to be. When you get on a bus you trust that driver with your well-being and your life. If a bus driver does not take that responsibility seriously and causes you injury, you can be sure that the committed and relentless bus accident attorney at Burger Law will hold them accountable.

The Other Driver

Like any type of motor vehicle crash, there are frequently two or more drivers, and in some instances they each may shoulder a percentage of the blame. Another driver’s thoughtlessness, such as speeding, driving while intoxicated or pulling in front of the bus too quickly can harm you. If you were harmed in a bus crash where there was another driver or drivers involved, your talented and seasoned Independence, MO bus accident attorney will help you confirm if they are at fault and if you should make a claim against their insurance company.

School Districts

School bus accidents are the most common type of bus crash in Independence and Missouri. Nationally, school bus accidents account for 40 percent of all fatal bus wrecks. While often the driver, bus company or bus manufacturer is responsible, a school district in Independence, MO may also be held accountable, for instance if they did not cancel school on a day when weather conditions were especially bad or they did not conduct sufficient 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 Independence, MO Recover For Me?

The compensation you are awarded in a bus accident case will typically be based on the severity of your injuries and the consequences they have on your life. You may have received a mild concussion that just required a quick trip to an emergency room in Independence, MO and a week or two off work. Or, you may have sustained a catastrophic spinal cord injury that leaves you disabled and in need of special equipment for the remainder of your life. When you hire a dedicated and accomplished Independence, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will make sure 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 expenses, such as hospital bills, rehabilitation, assistive devices and medications
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential

  We work with our team of medical and economic experts to determine the exact dollar amount you deserve, 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 affected your life, Burger Law's Independence, MO bus accident attorney team will fight relentlessly to ensure that you recover full 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 Independence, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today

We have seen every category of bus accident case and know the immense anguish and calamitous effect it can have on your and your loved ones. Your Independence, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is passionate, accomplished, straightforward and tenacious and will use every bit of the knowledge and skills we have acquired over the past two decades to get you the full recovery you are rightfully owed. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, do not delay. Call Burger Law immediately at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a complimentary case evaluation.