Bus Accident Attorney in Lake Ozark, MO

Bus Accident Attorney in Lake Ozark, MO. If you or a loved one has been injured 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 receive equal attention as plane or train wrecks, even though the can frequently be similarly dangerous and fatal. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Lake Ozark, MO bus drivers and bus companies to maintain our safety and obey the rules. When they eschew their duty and do not respect the rules it can have ruinous, sometimes lifelong outcomes for you or the people you care about. Your Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will ensure that you collect the best possible compensation that you are owed for your injuries.

At Burger Law, our bus accident attorney team has more than 20 years of experience defending the injured in Lake Ozark and throughout Missouri and standing up to bullies like resistant insurance companies and people who egotistically do not want to be held responsible for their careless behavior. Our Lake Ozark, MO clients have put their cases and their futures in our accomplished hands, and to date we have recovered for them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their determination, commitment, relentlessness, knowledge and experience to help deliver justice in personal injury cases and help Lake Ozark, MO residents become whole again. You should not have to lose work, pay for extortionate medical bills and also work through the emotional toll of your injury just because someone else broke the rules. If you or a family member has been hurt in a Lake Ozark, 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 consultation. We get started on your case at once, and you do not owe us any fees until we win your case.

If you were injured in a bus accident in Lake Ozark, MO because of somebody else's reckless behavior, discover how much your damages may be worth by using our personal injury calculator.

Do I Need a Lake Ozark, MO Bus Accident Attorney?

If you were caused injuries in a bus accident, you are probably feeling especially powerless. After all, you were not the one driving and you got on the bus presuming that the proper safety arrangements were followed. Lake Ozark, MO bus companies and drivers have firm regulations they have a duty to adhere to, but sometimes they neglect those duties 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 consequences or in the most terrible cases can even result in wrongful death. The Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will stand in your corner so you do not need to go it alone. When you hire us we get to work on on your case at once, and work tirelessly until you receive the best possible compensation you deserve. We have seen every type of bus accident injury and know every trick insurance companies use to try and deceive injured Lake Ozark, MO individuals and families into accepting less money than they deserve. Those Lake Ozark, 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.

Legal proceedings are convoluted and can be difficult to comprehend for Lake Ozark, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial abilities of an accomplished bus accident attorney. For over 20 years standing up to bullies and fighting the hard fight. When you hire our Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney team, we manage every aspect of your claim. You can bank on an experienced and skilled bus accident attorney at Burger Law to:

• Investigate the accident site the first chance we get. When you call us, we can have a bus accident lawyer on the scene at any time during the day or night in order to secure essential evidence for your case.
• Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were close by. As buses carry a lot of passengers, there are almost always other passengers who want the same answers and compensation you need. Eyewitness testimony is a important part of proving your case.
• Acquire additional evidence such as tire marks, surveillance footage, police reports, as well as important details such as how far the driver had driven that day or when the last inspection and maintenance was conducted on the bus. A lot of different factors contribute to bus accidents, and your Burger Law Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney will discover the "whys" of the crash and who needs to be held liable.
• Utilize our network of Lake Ozark, MO auto wreck and medical experts to determine liability for your bus accident injuries and compute exactly how much your injuries are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are owed and we will use our experience and expertise to make sure you collect it.
• Fight back against resistant Lake Ozark, MO insurance companies who care more about their profits 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 ploys will not work in your case.
• Take the fight in front of a judge and jury if the insurance company will not offer a fair settlement, we will use our constantly trained litigation skills to secure you a full financial recovery for your damages.

Additionally, our bus accident attorney team will be by your side the 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 we win your case. If you or a family member has been hurt in a calamitous bus accident, contact an expert and devoted 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. Thankfully, an accomplished and skilled Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney like those at Burger Law have seen every category of car accident, truck accident and bus accident case and will be able to discover who is liable for your injuries.

What Causes Bus Accidents? | Lake Ozark, 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 55 years old were more likely to be driving when a bus accident transpired.
• Driver action. While the same study stated that just 4 percent of bus accidents were caused by a severe offense such as driving while intoxicated, another study by the University of Michigan stated that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus collisions had been cited with driving errors, for instance, speeding, being drowsy or distracted driving.
• Driver fatigue. Many bus drivers, particularly the ones that are employed by commercial bus companies such as Greyhound that necessitate drivers to drive hundreds of miles at all hours of the day or night, become sleepy and can even fall asleep at the wheel. While most busing companies have specifications about how many hours a driver can drive during a day or how frequently they have to take a break, those rules are frequently <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/23/us/greyhound-investigation/" target="_blank” rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener title="CNN"not enforced or followed.
• Road hazards. Given buses’ size and the awkwardness of driving them, icy roads or Lake Ozark, MO construction areas can be particularly hazardous for bus riders. Occasionally a third party such as a construction company is liable. Burger Law's bus accident attorney will help you decide 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 personnel responsible for inspections of more than 765,000 commercial motor vehicles, or just 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means reviews generally cannot stay ahead of the number of inspections required. Some Lake Ozark, MO bus companies do not adequately inspect their vehicles, causing them to be dangerous. Furthermore, bus companies need to make sure that their drivers are properly trained and are not overworked.
• Hazardous roads. Hazards in the road and road conditions can cause a driver to lose control and crash. Some typical examples are:
  • Potholes
  • Cracked or uneven pavement
  • Malfunctioning or missing traffic signals
  • Obstacles on the road, for example branches or vehicle wreckage
  • Inadequate lighting
  • Excessive grades

  The more time the dangerous condition has been on the Lake Ozark, MO road, the better your chances of holding the at-fault parties accountable. The liable party may be a local Lake Ozark, MO government, or a third party whom the government paid to fix the problem but either did not do so soon enough or did not correctly repair it.

Once your knowledgeable Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney confirm the reasons for your accident, they will be able to confirm who is liable for your injuries and how to go forward with delivering you a full financial recovery. Below are some examples of parties who are typically found liable in bus accident claims.

Commercial Bus Companies

Transport buses such as Greyhounds are deemed common carriers under the law, which means they have a duty of care to their riders to maintain their safety. One aspect of that duty of care is to ensure that their drivers are not driving too many miles in a day. Despite insisting that safety is their principal priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not complying with its own rules regarding driver fatigue. Drivers are technically obliged to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the bus to prevent drowsiness. However, the rule is not enforced and is usually not 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 because of driver fatigue. Additionally, many Greyhound riders have said that their driver was eating when the accident took place, which constitutes distracted driving.

Making sure that Lake Ozark, MO buses are correctly inspected and maintained and that they have safety equipment such as seatbelts are also part of the bus company's duty. A bus accident might be a consequence of a bus company either failing to provide routine maintenance or neglecting to repair a broken part or component. Older buses are particularly susceptible to breaking down and bus companies must keep their fleets updated.

Finally, 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 Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will perform a full investigation into the bus company's hiring practices and the person who was driving when the crash occurred.

A Bus Manufacturer

Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have a responsibility to confirm the safety of their vehicles and quickly issue recalls in the event of a malfunctioning product. If they approve an inherently dangerous 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 attempt to shift the blame to someone else, your Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over 20 years of experience making sure liable parties are held accountable for their behavior.

The Lake Ozark or Missouri Government or a Public Entity

Public transportation accidents can frequently be devastating because of the number of people involved and because they often take place in metropolitan areas. While you can file a suit against the Lake Ozark, 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 injury liability claims. 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 urgent to reach out to a Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney right away 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 operating a motor vehicle “within the course of their employment.” This means that you can sue or make a claim against a negligent or thoughtless public bus driver in Missouri.

The Bus Driver

Even a properly licensed and trained bus driver can cause a crash through recklessness. If they became distracted by looking at the roadside or texting, did not stop when they were feeling sleepy, did not pay attention to the Lake Ozark, 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 their employers sometimes have to be. When you board a bus you trust that driver with your health and your life. If a bus driver does not take that responsibility to heart and causes you injury, you can be sure that the devoted and aggressive bus accident attorney at Burger Law will hold them accountable.

The Other Driver

Like any type of motor vehicle accident, 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 knowledgeable and veteran Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney will help you determine 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 accident in Lake Ozark 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 liable, a school district in Lake Ozark, MO may also be held responsible, for example if they did not cancel school on a day when weather conditions were especially dangerous or they did not conduct 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 Lake Ozark, MO Recover For Me?

The compensation you get in a bus accident case will typically be based on the seriousness of your injuries and the consequences they have on your life. You may have sustained a mild concussion that merely needed a quick trip to an emergency room in Lake Ozark, MO and a week or two off work. Or, you may have received a catastrophic spinal cord injury that leaves you disabled and in need of assistive devices for the remainder of your life. When you hire a dedicated and accomplished Lake Ozark, 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 expenses, such as hospital bills, physical therapy, assistive devices and medications
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity

  We utilize our team of medical and economic experts to calculate 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 serious your injuries and however much they have affected your life, Burger Law's Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney team will fight relentlessly to ensure that you get 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 Lake Ozark, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today

We have seen every type of bus accident case and know the incalculable pain and devastating effect it can have on your and your loved ones. Your Lake Ozark, 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 acquired over the past 20 years to win you the maximum recovery you rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a bus accident, there is no time to wait. Call Burger Law immediately at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a free case evaluation.