Bus Accident Attorney in Independence, MO

Bus Accident Attorney in Independence, MO. If you or a family member has been injured in a devastating bus accident, take control of your recovery by calling Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or by contacting us online.

Bus accidents almost never receive equal attention as plane or train crashes, even though the can frequently be equally as hazardous and fatal. 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 keep us safe and respect the rules. When they eschew their duty and disregard the rules it can have ruinous, sometimes lifelong effects for you or your family. Your Independence, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will ensure that you recover the full compensation that you deserve for your damages.

At Burger Law, our bus accident attorney team has over 20 years of experience fighting for the rights of the injured in Independence 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 actions. Many Independence, MO families have put their claims and their futures in our capable hands, and to date we have won them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their hard work, dedication, resolution, knowledge and experience to help right wrongs in personal injury cases and help Independence, MO residents heal. You should not have to lose work, pay for ridiculous medical costs and also handle the emotional scars of your injury only because someone else broke 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 consultation. We get started on your claim immediately, and you do not owe us any fees until we win your case.

If you were injured in a bus accident in Independence, MO because of another person's careless actions, learn how much your damages may be worth by using our personal injury calculator.

Do I Need a Independence, MO Bus Accident Attorney?

If you have experienced injuries in a bus accident, we know you are feeling especially unshielded. After all, you were not the one driving and you went aboard the bus under the assumption that the proper safety protocols were obeyed. Independence, MO bus companies and drivers have strict laws they have a duty to obey, but sometimes they fail in those responsibilities 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 fully recover from, may have lifelong consequences or in the most terrible instances can even result in wrongful death. The Independence, 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 tirelessly until you win the full compensation you are owed. We have made a claim for every type of bus accident case and know every trick insurance companies use to try and deceive injured Independence, MO individuals and families into accepting a lower recovery than they deserve. Those Independence, MO insurance companies are afraid of us because they know our bus accident attorney team takes up – and wins – the complicated cases. Call us today and let the passionate, experienced and aggressive bus accident lawyers at Burger Law help you safeguard your family’s future and help make you whole again.

The legal process is complicated and can be unforgiving to Independence, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial experience of an accomplished bus accident attorney. For over two decades fighting back against bullies and fighting the hard cases. When you hire our Independence, MO bus accident attorney team, we handle every detail of your case. You can expect an accomplished and knowledgeable bus accident attorney at Burger Law to:

• Investigate the accident site immediately. 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 important evidence for your case.
• Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were nearby. As buses carry a lot of passengers, there are usually many 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, security footage, police reports, as well as key details such as how far the driver had driven without taking a break or when the last inspection and maintenance was conducted on the bus. Several different factors give rise to bus accidents, and your Burger Law Independence, MO bus accident attorney will discover the "whys" of the crash and who needs to be held liable.
• Work alongside our network of Independence, MO accident 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 use our experience and expertise to make certain you collect it.
• Stand up to resistant Independence, MO insurance companies who are more concerned for their bottom line than your health. We have seen every trick in the book that insurance companies use to try and weasel their way out of their duty to compensate you. When you hire us, you can be sure those ploys 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 constantly trained litigation skills to win you a full financial recovery for your injuries.

Beyond that, our bus accident attorney team will be by your side the whole 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 loved one has been harmed in a ruinous 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 part to play in operating a bus safely you will first need to find out 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 kind 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? | 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, in addition to more experienced drivers over 55 years old were more likely to be driving when a bus accident happened.
• Driver error. While the same study reported that a mere 4 percent of bus accidents were because of a serious offense such as driving while intoxicated, another study by the University of Michigan found that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus crashes had committed driving errors, for instance, speeding, being sleepy or distracted driving.
• Driver fatigue. A lot of bus drivers, particularly those that work for commercial bus companies such as Greyhound that necessitate drivers to drive hundreds of miles in the middle of the 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 a day or how frequently they have to take a break, those rules 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 hazards. Given buses’ size and the intricacy of steering them, icy roads or Independence, MO construction areas can be particularly hazardous for bus passengers. In some cases a third party such as a construction company will be at fault. Burger Law's bus accident attorney will help you understand 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 people responsible for reviews for over 765,000 motor carriers, or a mere 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means inspectors frequently cannot stay ahead of the amount of inspections needed. Some Independence, MO bus companies do not adequately maintain their vehicles, causing them to be less safe. Furthermore, bus companies need to ensure that their drivers are sufficiently trained and do not drive too long without a break.
• Dangerous 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
  • Faulty or missing traffic signals
  • Obstacles on the road, such as branches or vehicle wreckage
  • Insufficient lighting
  • Excessive grades

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

Once your knowledgeable Independence, MO bus accident attorney determines the reasons for your accident, they will be able to determine who is responsible for your injuries and how to proceed with delivering you a maximum financial recovery. Below are some examples of parties who are typically found liable in bus accident claims.

Commercial Bus Lines

Transportation buses such as Greyhounds are regarded as common carriers under the law, which means they have a duty of care to their riders to maintain their safety. Part of that duty of care is to ensure that their drivers are not being overworked. In despite of insisting that safety is their principal priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not following its own rules regarding driver fatigue. Drivers are theoretically required to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the vehicle to prevent 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 found that 37 percent of all passenger bus crashes were because of driver fatigue. Moreover, many Greyhound passengers have stated that their driver was eating when the crash transpired, which is an example of distracted driving.

Ensuring that Independence, MO buses are correctly inspected and maintained and that safety equipment such as seatbelts are present and up-to-date are also part of the bus company's duty. A bus accident might 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 especially susceptible to breaking down and bus companies need to 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 permitted to drive after passing stringent background checks. Your Independence, 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 crash occurred.

A Bus Manufacturer

Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have a duty to verify the safety of their vehicles and swiftly issue recalls if a product is discovered to be dangerous. 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 might try to shift the blame to someone else, your Independence, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over 20 years of experience making sure negligent parties are held responsible for their behavior.

The Independence or Missouri Government or a Public Entity

Public transportation accidents can often be disastrous because of the number of people who could be injured and because they usually take place in metropolitan areas. While you can seek a financial recovery from the Independence, MO government, there are special procedures for doing so. Missouri has sovereign immunities for governmental entities 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 necessary to get in touch with a Independence, MO bus accident attorney right away after your injury. 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 crash due to driver error. If they became distracted by looking at the roadside or texting, did not pull over when they were feeling drowsy, did not pay attention to the Independence, 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 go on board a bus you trust that driver with your health and your life. If a bus driver does not take that obligation seriously and causes you injury, you can be certain that the committed and aggressive bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make them pay.

The Other Driver

Like any type of motor vehicle collision, there are frequently two or more drivers, and in some cases they each may bear 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 injure you. If you were harmed in a bus accident where there was another driver or drivers involved, your talented and experienced Independence, MO bus accident attorney will help you confirm if they are responsible and if you can make a claim against their insurance company.

School Districts

School bus accidents are the the kind of bus crash we most commonly see 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 at fault, a school district in Independence, MO may also be held accountable, for example if they did not cancel school on a day when road conditions were especially bad or they did not carry out 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 get in a bus accident case will typically depend on the seriousness of your injuries and how they have affected and will affect they have on your life. You may have gotten a mild concussion that just required a quick trip to an emergency room in Independence, MO and a short time off work. Or, you may have sustained a disastrous 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 secure a great 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 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 severe your injuries and however much they have impacted your life, Burger Law's Independence, MO bus accident attorney team will fight tirelessly to ensure that you receive maximum 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 Independence, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today

We have seen every category of bus accident case and know the immense pain and ruinous effect it can have on your and your family. Your Independence, 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 get you the the best possible recovery you are rightfully owed. If you or a loved one has been injured 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 review.