Bus Accident Attorney in Jefferson City, MO

Bus Accident Attorney in Jefferson City, MO. If you or a family member has been harmed in a destructive 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 almost never get equal attention as plane or train wrecks, even though the can frequently be just as hazardous and fatal. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Jefferson City, MO bus drivers and bus companies to maintain our safety and respect the rules. When they eschew their obligations and break the rules it can have terrible, sometimes permanent effects for you or your family. Your Jefferson City, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make sure 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 two decades of experience defending the injured in Jefferson City and throughout Missouri and standing up to bullies like resistant insurance companies and people who egocentrically do not want to take responsibility for their negligent actions. Many Jefferson City, MO individuals have put their cases and their futures in our trustworthy hands, and in total 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 find justice in personal injury cases and help Jefferson City, MO residents become whole again. You should not have to lose wages, pay for exorbitant medical costs and also deal with the emotional trauma of your injury just because someone else did not respect the rules. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Jefferson City, MO bus accident, contact the bus accident attorney of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review. We start working on your case right away, and we do not charge any fees until we win your case.

If you were injured in a bus accident in Jefferson City, MO because of somebody else's careless actions, discover how much your claim may be worth by filling out our personal injury calculator.

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

If you were caused injuries in a bus accident, you are probably feeling especially unprotected. After all, you were not the driver and you got on the bus assuming that the adequate safety protocols were followed. Jefferson City, MO bus companies and drivers have firm regulations they are supposed to follow, but sometimes they neglect 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 really heal from, may have lifelong effects or in the most terrible instances can even result in wrongful death. The Jefferson City, 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 start investigating on your case right away, and work relentlessly until you recover the best possible compensation you are owed. We have seen every type of bus accident injury and know every trick insurance companies use to try and deceive injured Jefferson City, MO individuals and families into accepting less compensation than they deserve. Those Jefferson City, 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, veteran 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 unforgiving to Jefferson City, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial abilities of an accomplished bus accident attorney. We have more than two decades of experience standing up to bullies and fighting the hard cases. When you hire our Jefferson City, MO bus accident attorney team, we manage every facet of your claim. You can expect an experienced and savvy bus accident attorney at Burger Law to:

• Investigate the accident site immediately. When you call us, we can have a bus accident lawyer at the site at any time during the day or night in order to acquire key evidence for your claim.
• Interview eyewitnesses who were either also received injuries in the crash or were nearby. As buses carry a lot of passengers, there are generally other people who want the same answers and financial recovery you need. We will perform official depositions of eyewitnesses to aid in your case.
• Obtain additional evidence such as tire marks, surveillance footage, police reports, in additional to key details such as how far the driver had driven that day or when the last inspection and repairs were conducted on the bus. A lot of different factors contribute to bus accidents, and your Burger Law Jefferson City, MO bus accident attorney will find out the "whys" of the crash and who needs to be held accountable.
• Work alongside our network of Jefferson City, MO crash and medical experts to determine negligence for your bus accident injuries and work out 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 certain you collect it.
• Stand up to resistant Jefferson City, MO insurance companies who are more concerned for their profits 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 tricks will not work in your case.
• Take the fight 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 win you a great financial recovery for your injuries.

Beyond that, our bus accident attorney team will be in your corner 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 a loved one has been injured in a disastrous 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 part 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. Thankfully, an accomplished and skilled Jefferson City, 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 discover who needs to be held accountable for your injuries.

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

• The age of the driver and their experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that inexperienced drivers under the age of 25, 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 caused by an egregious offense such as the driver being intoxicated, a different study by the University of Michigan stated that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus wrecks had been cited with driving errors, for example, speeding, being drowsy or distracted driving.
• Driver fatigue. A good deal of bus drivers, especially those that are employed by commercial bus companies such as Greyhound that require drivers to drive hundreds of miles in the middle of the night, become fatigued and can even fall asleep behind the wheel. While most busing companies have rules about how many hours a driver can drive during a day or how frequently they have to take a break, those regulations are frequently <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 conditions. Given buses’ weight and the difficulty of maneuvering them, slick roads or Jefferson City, MO construction areas can be especially hazardous for bus riders. In some cases a third party such as a construction company is liable. 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 inspectors responsible for inspections of over 765,000 motor carriers, or a mere 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means reviews typically cannot stay ahead of the number of inspections needed. Some Jefferson City, MO bus companies do not properly repair their vehicles, causing them to be a hazard. Furthermore, bus companies are mandated to ensure that their drivers are properly trained and do not drive too long without a break.
• Hazardous roads. Unsafe road conditions or hazards in the road can lead to a driver losing control and crashing. Some typical examples are:
  • Potholes
  • Uneven pavement or cracks in the pavement
  • Defective or missing traffic lights
  • Obstacles on the road, such as branches or vehicle wreckage
  • Poor lighting
  • Excessive grades

  The more time the dangerous condition has been on the Jefferson City, MO road, the better your odds of holding the negligent parties responsible. The negligent party may be a local Jefferson City, MO government, or a third party whom the government contracted to fix the condition but either did not do so quickly enough or did not properly repair it.

Once your skilled Jefferson City, MO bus accident attorney deduces the reasons behind your accident, they will be able to establish who is responsible for your injuries and how to take the next steps toward winning you the best possible compensation. Below are some examples of parties who are typically found at-fault in bus accident cases.

Commercial Bus Companies

Transport buses such as Greyhounds are deemed common carriers legally speaking, which means they have a duty of care to their passengers to look out for their safety. One aspect of that duty of care is to ensure that their drivers are not driving too many hours without a break. Despite insisting that safety is their principal priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not obeying its own rules regarding driver fatigue. Drivers are theoretically required to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the bus to prevent drowsiness. However, the rule is not enforced and is rarely obeyed 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 owing to driver fatigue. Moreover, many Greyhound riders have stated that their driver was eating during the time of a crash, which constitutes distracted driving.

Making sure that Jefferson City, MO buses are correctly inspected and repaired 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 could be the result of a bus company either neglecting to perform routine inspections or failing to repair a broken part or component. Older buses are particularly predisposed to breaking down and bus companies need to keep their fleets updated.

Lastly, bus companies need to be mindful in their 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 City, 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 crash transpired.

A Bus Manufacturer

Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have a responsibility to confirm the safety of their vehicles 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 correctly, they are guilty of product liability. While they may try to shift the blame to somebody else, your Jefferson City, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over 20 years of experience making sure liable parties are held responsible for their behavior.

The Jefferson City or Missouri Government or a Public Entity

Public transportation accidents can often be devastating because of the amount of people involved and because they frequently take place in densely populated areas. While you can make a claim against the Jefferson City, 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 tort 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 necessary to get in touch with a Jefferson City, MO bus accident attorney at once 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 an at-fault or reckless public bus driver in Missouri.

The Bus Driver

Even a properly licensed and trained bus driver can cause a crash because of driver error. If they became distracted by eating or talking, did not stop driving when they were feeling overly tired, did not pay attention to the Jefferson City, 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 bus companies sometimes have to be. When you ascend a bus you trust that driver with your safety and your life. If a bus driver does not take that duty to heart and causes you injury, you can be certain that the dedicated and aggressive bus accident attorney at Burger Law will hold them accountable.

The Other Driver

Like any type of motor vehicle wreck, there are frequently two or more drivers, and in some instances they each may bear a portion of the blame. Another driver’s negligence, such as speeding, driving while intoxicated or pulling in front of the bus too quickly can injure you. If you were injured in a bus accident where there was another driver or drivers involved, your knowledgeable and seasoned Jefferson City, MO bus accident attorney will help you establish if they are liable 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 Jefferson City 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 Jefferson City, MO may also be held responsible, for instance 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 Jefferson City, MO Recover For Me?

The compensation you collect in a bus accident case will typically be based on the seriousness of your injuries and how they have affected and will impact they have on your life. You may have received a mild concussion that only needed a quick trip to an emergency room in Jefferson City, MO and a week or two off work. Or, you may have experienced 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 City, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will make certain that you are awarded 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 costs, such as hospital bills, physical therapy, assistive devices and medications
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity

  We work with our team of medical and economic experts to quantify 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 severe your injuries and however much they have impacted your life, Burger Law's Jefferson City, MO bus accident attorney team will fight tirelessly to ensure that you receive full 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 Jefferson City, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today

We have seen every variety of bus accident case and know the immense anguish and catastrophic effect it can have on your and your family. Your Jefferson City, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is compassionate, accomplished, trustworthy and relentless and will use every bit of the knowledge and skills we have obtained over the past two decades to get you the the best possible recovery you are rightfully owed. If you or a loved one has been harmed 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 consultation.