Bus Accident Attorney in Jefferson County, MO

Bus Accident Attorney in Jefferson County, MO. If you or a family member has been injured in a destructive bus accident, take control of 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 accidents, even though the can often be similarly dangerous and deadly. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Jefferson County, MO bus drivers and bus companies to maintain our safety and follow the rules. When they break that trust and do not respect the rules it can have ruinous, sometimes lifelong outcomes for you or your family. Your Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make sure that you win 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 Jefferson County and throughout Missouri and fighting back against bullies like deceptive insurance companies and people who egotistically do not want to take responsibility for their reckless actions. Many Jefferson County, MO families have put their claims and their futures in our knowledgeable hands, and to date we have collected for them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their hard work, dedication, relentlessness, knowledge and experience to help secure justice in personal injury cases and help Jefferson County, MO residents on their road to recovery. You should not have to lose work, pay for expensive medical costs and also deal with the emotional shock of your injury only because another person did not respect the rules. If you or someone you care about has been harmed in a Jefferson County, 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 start working on your claim immediately, 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 Jefferson County, MO because of somebody else's careless actions, discover how much your damages may be worth by using our personal injury calculator.

Do I Need a Jefferson County, MO Bus Accident Attorney?

If you have sustained injuries in a bus accident, we know you are feeling especially vulnerable. After all, you were not the one driving and you boarded the bus assuming that the correct safety measures were followed. Jefferson County, MO bus companies and drivers have firm regulations they have a duty to follow, but sometimes they fail in 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 fully recover from, may have permanent effects or in the most terrible instances can even cause wrongful death. The Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will fight by your side so you do not have to face an uncertain future alone. When you hire us we begin investigating on your case immediately, and work relentlessly until you recover the maximum compensation you deserve. We have made a claim for every type of bus accident injury and know every trick insurance companies use to try and defraud injured Jefferson County, MO individuals and families into settling for a lower recovery than they are owed. Those Jefferson County, MO insurance companies fear us because they know our bus accident attorney team takes on – and wins – the tough cases. Call us today and let the passionate, seasoned and tenacious bus accident lawyers at Burger Law help you protect your family’s future and help make you whole again.

The legal process is complicated and can be difficult to comprehend for Jefferson County, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial abilities of an accomplished bus accident attorney. We have over two decades of experience fighting back against bullies and fighting the hard fight. When you hire our Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney team, we oversee every facet of your claim. You can bank on a veteran and savvy bus accident attorney at Burger Law to:

• Investigate the crash site as soon as possible. When you call us, we can have a bus accident lawyer on the scene at any time of the day or night in order to acquire vital evidence for your case.
• Interview eyewitnesses who were either also received injuries in the crash or were nearby. As buses carry a variety of passengers, there are often other people who want the same answers and compensation you need. Eyewitness testimony is a vital part of proving your case.
• Obtain additional evidence such as tire marks, surveillance videos, police reports, and key details such as how long the driver had driven that day or when the last inspection and repairs were done on the bus. Several different factors play a part in bus accidents, and your Burger Law Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney will determine why the crash happened and who needs to be held responsible.
• Work with our network of Jefferson County, MO crash and medical experts to determine liability for your bus accident injuries and calculate exactly how much your injuries are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are entitled to and we will use our knowledge and expertise to make sure you collect it.
• Fight back against resistant Jefferson County, MO insurance companies who are more concerned for their bottom line than your well-being. We have seen every trick in the book that insurance companies use to try and devalue your damages. When you hire us, you can be sure those tricks will not work in your case.
• Take your case to trial if the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement, we will use our expert litigation skills to win you a full financial recovery for your injuries.

Furthermore, our bus accident attorney team will be by your side the 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 ruinous bus accident, contact an expert and dedicated bus accident attorney at Burger Law today.

Who is Liable for My Bus Accident Injuries?

Because bus drivers, companies and manufacturers all have a role to play in running a bus in a safe manner you will first need to find out the cause of the accident before determining who was negligent. Fortunately, an accomplished and skilled Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney like those at Burger Law have seen every variety of car accident, truck accident and bus accident case and will be able to determine who is liable for your injuries.

What Causes Bus Accidents? | Jefferson County, MO Bus Accident Attorney

• The age of the driver and their experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that inexperienced 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 took place.
• Driver error. While the same study reported that only 4 percent of bus accidents were because of a serious offense such as driving while intoxicated, another study by the University of Michigan reported that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus accidents had committed driving errors, for example, speeding, being sleepy 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 at all hours of the day or night, become fatigued and can even fall asleep at the wheel. While most busing companies have specifications about how many hours a driver can drive during without a break or how often 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 obligated or obeyed.
• Road hazards. Given buses’ weight and the awkwardness of steering them, icy roads or Jefferson County, MO construction areas can be particularly hazardous for bus commuters. Sometimes a third party such as a construction company is at fault. Burger Law's bus accident attorney will help you determine if that is the case.
• Negligence by the bus company. Bus companies are regulated, but not close to 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 inspectors responsible for reviews for over 765,000 motor carriers, or a mere 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means inspectors typically cannot stay ahead of the number of inspections needed. Some Jefferson County, MO bus companies do not adequately maintain their vehicles, causing them to be dangerous. Furthermore, bus companies are mandated to make sure that their drivers are properly trained and do not drive too many hours without a break.
• Hazardous roads. Unsafe road conditions or hazards in the road can result in a driver losing control and crashing. Some common examples are:
  • Potholes
  • Cracked or uneven pavement
  • Malfunctioning or missing traffic lights
  • Obstacles on the road, for instance branches or vehicle wreckage
  • Poor lighting
  • Excessive grades

  The more time the dangerous condition has been on the Jefferson County, MO road, the better your chances of holding the liable parties responsible. The negligent party may be a local Jefferson County, MO government, or a third party whom the government paid to eliminate the problem but either did not do so quickly enough or did not adequately repair it.

Once your experienced Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney establishes the reasons behind your accident, they will be able to establish who is at-fault for your injuries and how to proceed with getting you maximum compensation. Below are some examples of parties who are typically found liable in bus accident cases.

Commercial Bus Companies

Transport buses such as Greyhounds are considered common carriers under the law, which means they have a duty of care to their riders to maintain their safety. One facet of that duty of care is to ensure that their drivers are not driving too many miles in a day. Despite saying that safety is their highest priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not complying with its own rules regarding driver fatigue. Drivers are technically required to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the bus to prevent sleepiness. However, the rule is not enforced and is rarely followed as too many breaks could lead to financial losses for the company. A 2012 government study found that 37 percent of all passenger bus crashes were because of driver fatigue. Additionally, many Greyhound passengers have said that their driver was eating during the time of an accident, which is an example of distracted driving.

Making certain that Jefferson County, MO buses are adequately inspected and maintained and that safety equipment such as seatbelts are present and up-to-date are also part of the bus company's obligation. A bus accident might be because of a bus company either neglecting to perform routine maintenance or neglecting to repair a broken part or component. Buses with more miles under their wheels are particularly predisposed to breaking down and bus companies must keep their fleets updated.

Finally, bus companies cannot use negligent hiring practices. All drivers need to be sufficiently licensed and trained, and should only be allowed to drive after passing stringent background checks. Your Jefferson County, 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 wreck took place.

A Bus Manufacturer

Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have a duty to ensure the safety of their products 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 may try to shift the blame to someone else, your Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over 20 years of experience making sure careless parties are held accountable for their behavior.

The Jefferson County or Missouri Government or a Public Entity

Public transportation accidents can frequently be ruinous because of the number of people who could be injured and because they typically take place in metropolitan areas. While you can seek a financial recovery from the Jefferson County, MO government, there are particular procedures for doing so. Missouri has stricter protections for governmental bodies and government employees than for the average citizen in tort cases. If you seek to file a suit 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 crucial to reach out to a Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney immediately after your injury. 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 operating a motor vehicle “within the course of their employment.” This means that you can sue or make a claim against a negligent or careless public bus driver in Missouri.

The Bus Driver

Even a properly licensed and trained bus driver can cause an accident because of recklessness. If they became distracted by eating or texting, did not stop driving when they were feeling overly tired, did not pay attention to the Jefferson County, MO road conditions and driving laws while they were driving or made the terrible decision to drive drunk, they need to be held responsible 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 certain that the devoted and tenacious bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make them pay.

The Other Driver

Like any type of auto accident, there are often two or more drivers, and in some cases they each may share 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 injure you. If you were hurt in a bus crash where there was another driver or drivers involved, your talented and accomplished Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney will help you ascertain if they are at fault and if you should make a claim against their insurance company.

School Districts

School bus accidents are the the type of bus accident we most commonly see in Jefferson County and Missouri. Nationally, school bus accidents account for 40 percent of all fatal bus crashes. While often the driver, bus company or bus manufacturer is at fault, a school district in Jefferson County, MO may also be held accountable, for example if they did not cancel school on a day when weather conditions were particularly bad or they did not perform proper 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 Jefferson County, MO Recover For Me?

The compensation you receive in a bus accident case will generally depend on the gravity of your injuries and the repercussions they have on your life. You may have received a mild concussion that only required a quick trip to an emergency room in Jefferson County, 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 assistive devices for the rest of your life. When you hire a dedicated and accomplished Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will ensure that you collect a fair 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, physical therapy, assistive devices and medications
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential

  We work alongside our team of medical and economic experts to determine 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 affected your life, Burger Law's Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney team will fight aggressively 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:

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

Call Our Jefferson County, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today

We have seen every type of bus accident case and know the immense anguish and calamitous effect it can have on your and your loved ones. Your Jefferson County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is empathetic, accomplished, honest and persistent and will use every bit of the knowledge and abilities we have obtained over the past 20 years to secure you the maximum recovery you rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured 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 complimentary case evaluation.