Bus Accident Attorney in Bonne Terre, MO

Bus Accident Attorney in Bonne Terre, MO. If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a disastrous 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 get the same attention as plane or train accidents, even though the can oftentimes be equally as harmful and deadly. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Bonne Terre, MO bus drivers and bus companies to maintain our safety and follow the rules. When they break that trust and disregard the rules it can have ruinous, sometimes permanent consequences for you or your family. Your Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make sure that you recover the full compensation that you are owed for your injuries.

At Burger Law, our bus accident attorney team has over 20 years of experience defending the injured in Bonne Terre and throughout Missouri and standing up to bullies like dishonest insurance companies and people who egotistically do not want to be held accountable for their negligent behavior. Our Bonne Terre, MO clients have put their cases and their futures in our knowledgeable hands, and in total we have collected for them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their determination, dedication, persistence, knowledge and experience to help right wrongs in personal injury cases and help Bonne Terre, MO residents heal. You should not have to lose work, pay for ridiculous medical bills and also handle the emotional shock of your injury only because somebody else did not respect the rules. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Bonne Terre, MO bus accident, call 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 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 Bonne Terre, MO because of another person's thoughtless behavior, learn how much your damages may be worth by filling out our personal injury calculator.

Do I Need a Bonne Terre, MO Bus Accident Attorney?

If you were caused injuries in a bus accident, we know you are feeling especially unprotected. After all, you were not the driver and you got on the bus supposing that the proper safety measures were followed. Bonne Terre, MO bus companies and drivers have strict rules they have an obligation to adhere to, but sometimes they neglect those responsibilities and they leave us to pick up the pieces. Because of the force that is frequently exerted by bus accidents, injuries can take years to really heal from, may have lifelong consequences or in the worst instances can even lead to wrongful death. The Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will fight on your behalf so you do not have to go it alone. When you hire us we begin investigating on your case straight away, and work relentlessly until you recover the best possible compensation you deserve. We have experienced with every type of bus accident claim and know every trick insurance companies use to try and deceive injured Bonne Terre, MO individuals and families into accepting less compensation than they deserve. Those Bonne Terre, 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 compassionate, experienced and tenacious bus accident lawyers at Burger Law help you safeguard your family’s future and help make you whole again.

The legal process is convoluted and can be unforgiving to Bonne Terre, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial capabilities of an accomplished bus accident attorney. We have over 20 years of experience fighting back against bullies and fighting the hard fight. When you hire our Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney team, we manage every aspect of your claim. You can bank on an accomplished and knowledgeable bus accident attorney at Burger Law to:

• Investigate the crash 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 essential evidence for your case.
• Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were close by. As buses carry multiple passengers, there are generally a lot of people who want the same answers and financial recovery you need. We will perform official depositions of eyewitnesses to help in your case.
• Acquire additional evidence such as tire marks, surveillance footage, police reports, in additional to important details such as how many miles the driver had driven without taking a break or when the last inspection and repairs were done on the bus. A lot of different factors play a part in bus accidents, and your Burger Law Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney will discover why the crash happened and who needs to be held accountable.
• Work with our network of Bonne Terre, MO auto wreck and medical experts to determine liability for your bus accident injuries and compute precisely how much your damages are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are entitled to and we will implement our experience and expertise to make certain you get it.
• Fight back against resistant Bonne Terre, MO insurance companies who care more about their profits than your health. We have seen every trick in the book that insurance companies use to try and weasel their way out of their obligation to compensate you. When you hire us, you can be sure those tricks will not work in your case.
• Take your case in front of a judge and jury if the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement, we will use our constantly trained litigation skills to secure you a great financial recovery for your injuries.

Beyond that, our bus accident attorney team will be keeping you informed whole 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. You owe us no attorneys fees until you are fully compensated. If you or a family member has been injured in a catastrophic bus accident, contact an expert and committed 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 learn the cause of the accident before determining who was negligent. Thankfully, an accomplished and skilled Bonne Terre, 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 who is liable for your injuries.

What Causes Bus Accidents? | Bonne Terre, MO Bus Accident Attorney

• Driver age and experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that beginner 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 occurred.
• Driver behavior. While the same study stated that only 4 percent of bus accidents were owing to a grave offense such as driving while intoxicated, a different study by the University of Michigan reported that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus wrecks had committed driving errors, such as speeding, being sleepy or distracted driving.
• Driver fatigue. Many bus drivers, especially those 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 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 required or obeyed.
• Road conditions. Given buses’ weight and the awkwardness of driving them, icy roads or Bonne Terre, MO construction areas can be especially hazardous for bus riders. Sometimes 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 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 people responsible for reviews for more than 765,000 trucks and buses, or only 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means reviews often cannot stay ahead of the amount of inspections required. Some Bonne Terre, MO bus companies do not properly maintain their vehicles, causing them to be a hazard. Additionally, bus companies are required to make sure that their drivers are correctly trained and are not overworked.
• Dangerous 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
  • Inadequate lighting
  • Excessive grades

  The longer the dangerous condition has been on the Bonne Terre, MO road, the better your chances of holding the liable parties accountable. The negligent party may be a local Bonne Terre, MO government, or a third party whom the government paid to fix the condition but either did not do so in a timely fashion or did not sufficiently repair it.

Once your skilled Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney deduces the cause of your wreck, they will be able to ascertain who is liable for your injuries and how to proceed with getting you a maximum financial recovery. Below are some examples of parties who are typically found at-fault in bus accident cases.

Commercial Bus Lines

Transportation buses such as Greyhounds are regarded as common carriers legally speaking, which means they have a duty of care to their customers to look out for their safety. Part of that duty of care is to make certain that their drivers are not driving too many hours in a day. In despite of insisting that safety is their principal priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not following its own rules in regards to driver fatigue. Drivers are theoretically obliged to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the bus to hold off fatigue. However, the rule is not enforced and is rarely followed as too many breaks could result in financial losses for the company. A 2012 government study reported that 37 percent of all passenger bus crashes were caused by driver fatigue. Furthermore, many Greyhound passengers have stated that their driver was eating during the time of an accident, which is an example of distracted driving.

Making certain that Bonne Terre, 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 the result of a bus company either failing to conduct routine inspections or neglecting to fix a broken part or component. Buses with more miles under their wheels are particularly vulnerable to breaking down and bus companies need to keep their fleets updated.

Lastly, bus companies cannot use negligent hiring practices. All drivers need to be properly licensed and trained, and should only be permitted to drive after passing stringent background checks. Your Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will conduct a full investigation into the bus company's hiring practices and the person who was driving when the wreck happened.

A Bus Manufacturer

Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have a responsibility to verify the safety of their vehicles and immediately issue recalls if a product is found to be faulty. If they approve an inherently flawed design or do not recall a component that they knew or should have known was not functioning adequately, they are guilty of product liability. While they might attempt to shift the blame to somebody else, your Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over 20 years of experience making sure reckless parties are held responsible for their behavior.

The Bonne Terre or Missouri Government or a Public Entity

Public transportation accidents can often be ruinous because of the number of people who could be injured and because they usually happen in densely populated areas. While you can seek a financial recovery from the Bonne Terre, MO government, there are specific procedures for doing so. Missouri has stricter protections for governmental entities and government employees than for the average citizen in tort claims. If you want 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 Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney straight 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 driving 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 wreck because of negligence. If they became distracted by looking at the roadside or talking, did not stop when they were feeling overly tired, did not pay attention to the Bonne Terre, MO road conditions and driving laws while they were driving or made the terrible decision to drive drunk, they need to be held accountable just like bus companies sometimes have to be. When you ascend a bus you trust that driver with your health and your life. If a bus driver does not take that responsibility seriously and causes you injury, you can be certain that the dedicated and aggressive bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make them pay.

The Other Driver

Like any type of motor vehicle wreck, there are frequently two or more drivers, and in some cases they each may be responsible for 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 harm you. If you were hurt in a bus accident where there was another driver or drivers involved, your knowledgeable and veteran Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney will help you ascertain if they are at fault and if you can make a claim against their insurance company.

School Districts

School bus accidents are the most common type of bus accident in Bonne Terre 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 Bonne Terre, MO may also be held responsible, for example if they did not cancel school on a day when road conditions were especially dangerous or they did not carry out 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 Bonne Terre, MO Recover For Me?

The compensation you get in a bus accident case will generally depend on the gravity of your injuries and how they have affected and will impact they have on your life. You may have gotten a mild concussion that just required a quick trip to an emergency room in Bonne Terre, MO and a short time off work. Or, you may have received 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 Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will make certain that you receive 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 potential

  We use our network of medical and economic experts to quantify 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 Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney team will fight aggressively to ensure that you collect 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
• Car Accident Attorney in Missouri

Call Our Bonne Terre, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today

We have seen every type of bus accident case and know the incalculable pain and disastrous effect it can have on your and your loved ones. Your Bonne Terre, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is compassionate, accomplished, honest and determined and will use every bit of the knowledge and abilities we have gained over the past two decades to win you the maximum recovery you rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a bus accident, do not delay. Call Burger Law immediately at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a free case evaluation.