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Bus Accident Attorney in Marceline, MO
Bus Accident Attorney in Marceline, MO. If you or someone you care about has been harmed 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 equal attention as plane or train wrecks, even though the can often be just as harmful and deadly. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Marceline, MO bus drivers and bus companies to keep us safe and respect the rules. When they eschew their duty and do not respect the rules it can have ruinous, sometimes permanent outcomes for you or the people you care about. Your Marceline, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will ensure that you secure the best possible compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
At Burger Law, our bus accident attorney team has over 20 years of experience defending the injured in Marceline and throughout Missouri and standing up to bullies like deceptive insurance companies and people who egotistically do not want to take responsibility for their careless actions. Many Marceline, MO individuals 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 hard work, devotion, tenacity, knowledge and experience to help right wrongs in personal injury cases and help Marceline, MO residents become whole again. You should not have to lose work, pay for sky-high medical bills and also manage the emotional impact of your injury only because another person did not respect the rules. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a Marceline, MO bus accident, call the bus accident attorney of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation. We start working on your case right away, and we do not charge any fees until we win you the compensation you deserve.
If you were injured in a bus accident in Marceline, MO because of somebody else's thoughtless actions, learn how much your injury may be worth by filling out our personal injury calculator.
What's The Process to Settle My Personal Injury Claim?
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Do I Need a Marceline, MO Bus Accident Attorney?
If you have experienced injuries in a bus accident, you are likely feeling especially vulnerable. After all, you were not the driver and you got on board the bus presuming that the appropriate safety protocols were obeyed. Marceline, MO bus companies and drivers have stringent rules they are supposed to obey, but sometimes they neglect those obligations and they leave us to pick up the pieces. Because of the force that is typically exerted by bus accidents, injuries can take years to truly recover from, may have permanent consequences or in the most tragic instances can even cause wrongful death. The Marceline, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will fight by your side so you are not required to go it alone. When you hire us we begin working on your case at once, and work relentlessly until you recover the best possible compensation you are owed. We have seen every type of bus accident claim and know every trick insurance companies use to try and deceive injured Marceline, MO individuals and families into settling for less money than they are owed. Those Marceline, 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, experienced and aggressive bus accident lawyers at Burger Law help you protect your family’s future and help make you whole again.
The legal process is convoluted and can be unforgiving to Marceline, 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 fight. When you hire our Marceline, MO bus accident attorney team, we manage every detail of your case. You can anticipate a veteran 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 of the day or night in order to acquire important 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 many people who want the same answers and compensation you seek. Eyewitness testimony is a important part of proving your case.
- Acquire additional evidence such as tire marks, security footage, police reports, as well as important details such as how long the driver had driven that day or when the last inspection and maintenance was conducted on the bus. Many different factors contribute to bus accidents, and your Burger Law Marceline, MO bus accident attorney will find out the "whys" of the crash and who needs to be held responsible.
- Utilize our network of Marceline, MO crash and medical experts to determine liability for your bus accident injuries and work out exactly how much your injuries are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are entitled to and we will implement our knowledge and expertise to make certain you collect it.
- Fight back against resistant Marceline, 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 devalue your damages. When you hire us, you can be sure those schemes will not work in your case.
- Take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we will use our constantly trained litigation skills to win you a full financial recovery for your damages.
Furthermore, our bus accident attorney team will be keeping you informed entire time. We handle all communication, documentation and litigation so that you can focus all of your energy on healing and making your family whole again. We collect no attorneys fees until we win your case. If you or a loved one 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?
Since bus drivers, companies and manufacturers all have a role to play in operating a bus in a safe manner you will first need to find out the cause of the accident before determining who is liable. Fortunately, an accomplished and skilled Marceline, 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 find out what entity needs to be held accountable for your injuries.
What Causes Bus Accidents? | Marceline, MO Bus Accident Attorney
- The age of the driver and their experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that novice drivers under the age of 25, in addition to more experienced drivers over 55 years old were more likely to be driving when a bus accident took place.
- Driver behavior. While the same study stated that only 4 percent of bus accidents were owing to an egregious offense such as drunk driving, another study by the University of Michigan stated that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus crashes had been cited with driving errors, for example, speeding, being sleepy or distracted driving.
- Driver fatigue. A large portion 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 at the wheel. While most busing companies have rules about how many hours a driver can drive during without a break 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 required or obeyed.
- Road conditions. Given buses’ size and the awkwardness of steering them, icy roads or Marceline, MO construction areas can be especially risky 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 regulated, 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 personnel responsible for inspections of over 765,000 motor carriers, or just 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means inspectors generally cannot keep pace with the number of inspections required. Some Marceline, MO bus companies do not properly maintain their vehicles, causing them to be dangerous. Additionally, bus companies are obligated to make sure that their drivers are correctly trained and do not drive too long without a break.
- Hazardous roads. Unsafe road conditions or hazards in the road can result in a driver losing control and crashing. Some typical 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 longer the hazardous condition has been on the Marceline, MO road, the better your chances of holding the liable parties responsible. The at-fault party may be a local Marceline, MO government, or a third party whom the government hired to eliminate the issue but either did not do so in a timely fashion or did not adequately repair it.
Once your accomplished Marceline, MO bus accident attorney determines the reasons for your wreck, they will be able to determine who is liable for your injuries and how to take the next steps toward winning you a maximum financial recovery. Below are some examples of parties who are often found negligent in bus accident cases.
Commercial Bus Lines
Transport buses such as Greyhounds are deemed common carriers legally speaking, which means they have a duty of care to their passengers to maintain their safety. One aspect of that duty of care is to make sure that their drivers are not being overworked. Despite insisting that safety is their top priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not complying with its own rules regarding driver fatigue. Drivers are technically mandated to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the vehicle to inhibit fatigue. 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 owing to driver fatigue. Furthermore, many Greyhound riders have reported that their driver was eating when the accident occurred, which constitutes distracted driving.
Ensuring that Marceline, MO buses are adequately 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 neglecting to carry out routine maintenance or failing to fix a broken part or component. Older buses are especially at risk of breaking down and bus companies must keep their fleets updated.
Lastly, bus companies need to be prudent in their hiring practices. All drivers need to be adequately licensed and trained, and should only be able to drive after passing strict background checks. Your Marceline, 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 an obligation to certify the safety of their products and immediately issue recalls if a product is discovered to be unsafe. If they approve an inherently unsafe 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 place the blame on someone else, your Marceline, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over 20 years of experience making sure reckless parties are held accountable for their actions.
The Marceline or Missouri Government or a Public Entity
Public transportation accidents can frequently be calamitous because of the number of people who could be injured and because they frequently happen in densely populated areas. While you can seek a financial recovery from the Marceline, 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 injury liability cases. If you want 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 imperative to call a Marceline, 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 operating a motor vehicle “within the course of their employment.” This means that you can sue or make a claim against a negligent or reckless 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 stop driving when they were feeling drowsy, did not pay attention to the Marceline, 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 their employers sometimes have to be. When you board a bus you trust that driver with your well-being and your life. If a bus driver does not take that obligation seriously and causes you injury, you can be sure that the committed and tenacious bus accident attorney at Burger Law will hold them responsible.
The Other Driver
Like any type of motor vehicle wreck, two or more drivers are frequently involved, and in some instances they each may shoulder a percentage of the blame. Another driver’s recklessness, such as speeding, driving while intoxicated or pulling in front of the bus too quickly can hurt you. If you were injured in a bus wreck where there was another driver or drivers involved, your knowledgeable and experienced Marceline, 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 crash in Marceline 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 responsible, a school district in Marceline, MO may also be held responsible, for example if they did not cancel school on a day when road conditions were especially 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 Marceline, MO Recover For Me?
The compensation you are awarded in a bus accident case will typically be based on the gravity of your injuries and the consequences they have on your life. You may have sustained a sprained ankle that just required a quick trip to an emergency room in Marceline, MO and a week or two off work. Or, you may have received 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 Marceline, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will make certain that you secure 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, physical therapy, assistive devices and medications
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
We utilize our network of medical and economic experts to compute the exact dollar amount you are owed, 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 impacted your life, Burger Law's Marceline, MO bus accident attorney team will fight tirelessly to ensure that you receive the best possible compensation for all of your damages.
Learn more about our various practice areas by clicking the links below:
Call Our Marceline, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today
We have seen every kind of bus accident case and know the immense anguish and devastating effect it can have on your and your family. Your Marceline, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is empathetic, accomplished, honest and tenacious and will use every bit of the knowledge and skills 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 complimentary case evaluation.