Bus Accident Attorney in Lake Ozark, MO

Bus Accident Attorney in Lake Ozark, MO. If you or a family member has been harmed in a catastrophic 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 equal attention as plane or train crashes, even though the can often be just as 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 keep us safe and obey the rules. When they eschew their obligations and disregard the rules it can have terrible, 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 recover the full compensation that you are entitled to 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 fighting back against bullies like dishonest insurance companies and people who carelessly do not want to be held responsible for their thoughtless behavior. Many Lake Ozark, MO residents have put their claims and their futures in our knowledgeable hands, and in total we have gotten them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their determination, devotion, resolution, knowledge and experience to help right wrongs in personal injury cases and help Lake Ozark, MO residents become whole again. You should not have to lose work, pay for sky-high medical costs and also handle the emotional trauma of your injury only because another person disregarded the rules. If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a Lake Ozark, 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 begin working 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 thoughtless actions, find out how much your injury may be worth by using our personal injury calculator.

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

If you have received injuries in a bus accident, you are likely feeling especially undefended. After all, you were not the driver and you boarded the bus under the impression that that the proper safety arrangements were followed. Lake Ozark, MO bus companies and drivers have firm regulations they have a duty to follow, but sometimes they fail in those duties and they leave us to pick up the pieces. Because of the force that is frequently caused by bus accidents, injuries can take years to really recover from, may have lifelong effects or in the most tragic instances can even lead to wrongful death. The Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will stand by your side so you do not need to go it alone. When you hire us we begin working on your case immediately, and work tirelessly until you win the maximum compensation you are entitled to. We have seen every type of bus accident claim and know every trick insurance companies use to try and defraud injured Lake Ozark, MO individuals and families into settling for less compensation than they entitled to. Those Lake Ozark, MO insurance companies are afraid of us because they know our bus accident attorney team takes on – and wins – the tough cases. Call us today and let the empathetic, accomplished and relentless 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 Lake Ozark, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial abilities of an accomplished bus accident attorney. We have over 20 years of experience fighting back against bullies and fighting the hard cases. When you hire our Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney team, we manage every aspect of your claim. You can expect an accomplished and talented 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 during the day or night in order to secure important evidence for your claim.
• Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were nearby. As buses carry multiple passengers, there are usually many people who want the same answers and financial recovery you do. Eyewitness testimony is a essential part of winning your case.
• Obtain additional evidence such as tire marks, surveillance videos, police reports, as well as important details such as how far the driver had driven without taking a break or when the last inspection and repairs were conducted on the bus. Several different factors play a part in bus accidents, and your Burger Law Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney will find out the "whys" of the crash and who needs to be held liable.
• Use our network of Lake Ozark, MO accident and medical experts to determine liability for your bus accident injuries and work out exactly how much your damages are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are owed and we will use our experience and expertise to make sure you recover it.
• Fight back against resistant Lake Ozark, MO insurance companies who are more interested in their bottom line than your well-being. We have seen every trick in the book that insurance companies use to try and avoid their duty to compensate you. When you hire us, you can be sure those deceptive maneuvers will not work in your case.
• Take the fight to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we will use our expert litigation skills to secure you a great financial recovery for your damages.

Furthermore, our bus accident attorney team will be keeping you informed entire time. We manage 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 someone you care about has been harmed in a devastating bus accident, contact an expert and committed bus accident attorney at Burger Law today.

Who is Liable for My Bus Accident Injuries?

Since it necessitates so many people to run a bus safely, from manufacturers, to bus companies to drivers, you will first need to find out the cause of the accident before determining who caused your injuries. Fortunately, an accomplished and skilled Lake Ozark, 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 discover who needs to be held accountable for your injuries.

What Causes Bus Accidents? | Lake Ozark, MO Bus Accident Attorney

• Driver age and experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that novice drivers under 25 years old, in addition to more experienced drivers over the age of 55 were more likely to be driving when a bus accident occurred.
• Driver error. While the same study stated that only 4 percent of bus accidents were because of a grave 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 instance, speeding, being sleepy or distracted driving.
• Driver fatigue. Many bus drivers, particularly the ones that are employed by commercial bus lines 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 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 rules 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 complied with.
• Road conditions. Given buses’ mass and the difficulty of maneuvering them, slippery roads or Lake Ozark, MO construction areas can be especially dangerous for bus passengers. Sometimes a third party such as a construction company is negligent. Burger Law's bus accident attorney will help you decide if that is the case.
• Negligence by the bus company. Bus companies are overseen by regulatory entities, 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 people responsible for reviews for over 765,000 motor carriers, or only 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means inspectors typically cannot keep pace with the amount of inspections required. Some Lake Ozark, MO bus companies do not adequately maintain their vehicles, causing them to be a hazard. Furthermore, bus companies are obligated to make sure that their drivers are correctly trained and do not drive too long without a break.
• Dangerous roads. Faults in the road and road conditions can cause a driver to lose control and crash. A Few common examples are:
  • Potholes
  • Cracked or uneven pavement
  • Malfunctioning or missing traffic signals
  • Obstacles on the road, for example branches or vehicle wreckage
  • Poor lighting
  • Excessive grades

  The longer the dangerous condition has been on the Lake Ozark, MO street, the better chance you have of holding the at-fault parties responsible. The liable party may be a local Lake Ozark, MO government, or a third party whom the government hired to repair the condition but either did not do so soon enough or did not sufficiently repair it.

Once your accomplished Lake Ozark, 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 go forward with getting you a full financial recovery. Below are some examples of parties who are frequently found liable in bus accident cases.

Commercial Bus Companies

Transport buses such as Greyhounds are considered common carriers legally speaking, which means they have a duty of care to their riders to look out for their safety. One aspect of that duty of care is to ensure that their drivers are not being overworked. In despite of saying that safety is their highest priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not obeying its own rules when it comes to driver fatigue. Drivers are theoretically required to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the vehicle to prevent drowsiness. However, the rule is not enforced and is not often obeyed as too many breaks could lead to financial losses for the company. A 2012 government study stated that 37 percent of all passenger bus crashes were due to driver fatigue. Additionally, many Greyhound passengers have said that their driver was eating during the time of an accident, which is an example of distracted driving.

Making certain that Lake Ozark, MO buses are adequately inspected and maintained and that safety equipment such as seatbelts are present and up-to-date are also the responsibility of the bus company. A bus accident might be a consequence of a bus company either failing to provide routine maintenance or failing to fix 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 correctly licensed and trained, and should only be permitted to drive after passing stringent background checks. Your Lake Ozark, 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 took place.

A Bus Manufacturer

Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have an obligation to verify the safety of their products and swiftly announce recalls if a product is found to be unsafe. If they approve an inherently dangerous 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 place the blame on someone else, your Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over 20 years of experience making sure careless 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 amount of people who could be injured and because they frequently transpire in densely populated areas. While you can seek compensation from the Lake Ozark, MO government, there are specific procedures for doing so. Missouri has stricter protections for governmental bodies and government employees than for the average citizen in tort suits. If you seek to file a suit against a municipality or government employee, you must file it within 90 days of the injury with the Office of Administration’s Risk Management Division. That is why it is crucial to get in touch with a Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney straight away 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 driving a motor vehicle “within the course of their employment.” This means that you can sue or make a claim against a liable or careless 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 fatigued, did not pay attention to the Lake Ozark, 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 their employers sometimes have to be. When you get on a bus you trust that driver with your safety 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 wreck, two or more drivers are often involved, and in some cases they each may shoulder a percentage of the blame. Another driver’s negligence, 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 accident where there was another driver or drivers involved, your knowledgeable and accomplished Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney will help you ascertain if they are responsible 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 crashes. While often the driver, bus company or bus manufacturer is responsible, a school district in Lake Ozark, MO may also be held responsible, for instance if they did not cancel school on a day when weather conditions were especially poor or they did not conduct adequate 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 are awarded in a bus accident case will typically depend on the gravity of your injuries and the consequences they have on your life. You may have received a mild concussion that just needed a quick trip to an emergency room in Lake Ozark, MO and a couple weeks off work. Or, you may have received a catastrophic spinal cord injury that leaves you disabled and in need of special equipment for the rest of your life. When you hire a dedicated and accomplished Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will ensure that you secure 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 costs, such as hospital bills, physical therapy, assistive devices and medications
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity

  We work alongside our network of medical and economic experts to compute 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 impacted your life, Burger Law's Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney team will fight aggressively to ensure that you recover 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 Lake Ozark, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today

We have seen every kind of bus accident case and know the immense anguish and catastrophic effect it can have on your and your family. Your Lake Ozark, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is passionate, accomplished, trustworthy and determined and will use every bit of the knowledge and abilities we have obtained over the past 20 years to get you the maximum 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 complimentary case review.