Bus Accident Attorney in Lincoln County, MO

Bus Accident Attorney in Lincoln County, MO. If you or a loved one has been injured in a devastating 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 hardly ever receive equal attention as plane or train accidents, even though the can oftentimes be equally as hazardous and deadly. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Lincoln County, MO bus drivers and bus companies to keep us safe and obey the rules. When they break that trust and disregard the rules it can have devastating, sometimes lifelong consequences for you or your loved ones. Your Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will ensure that you collect the full compensation that you are entitled to for your damages.

At Burger Law, our bus accident attorney team has more than 20 years of experience fighting for the rights of the injured in Lincoln County and throughout Missouri and pushing back against bullies like deceptive insurance companies and people who carelessly do not want to be held responsible for their reckless behavior. Our Lincoln County, MO clients have put their cases 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, dedication, persistence, knowledge and experience to help secure justice in personal injury cases and help Lincoln County, MO residents become whole again. You should not have to lose wages, pay for sky-high medical costs and also work through the emotional shock of your injury only because somebody else disregarded the rules. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Lincoln County, MO bus accident, reach out to the bus accident attorney of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation. We get started on your case at once, and you do not owe us any fees until we win you the compensation you are owed.

If you were injured in a bus accident in Lincoln County, MO because of another person's reckless behavior, find out how much your claim may be worth by using our personal injury calculator.

Do I Need a Lincoln County, 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 one driving and you got on the bus under the impression that that the proper safety protocols were obeyed. Lincoln County, MO bus companies and drivers have strict rules they have a responsibility to respect, but sometimes they fail in those duties 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 effects or in the most terrible cases can even lead to wrongful death. The Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will stand in your corner so you do not need to face an uncertain future alone. When you hire us we start working on your case immediately, and will not let up until you win the best possible compensation you are entitled to. We have experienced with every type of bus accident injury and know every trick insurance companies use to try and defraud injured Lincoln County, MO individuals and families into settling for less compensation than they are owed. Those Lincoln County, MO insurance companies are afraid of us because they know our bus accident attorney team takes on – and wins – the hard cases. Call us today and let the empathetic, experienced and tenacious 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 Lincoln County, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial capabilities of an accomplished bus accident attorney. We have more than 20 years of experience fighting back against bullies and fighting the hard fight. When you hire our Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney team, we handle every detail of your case. You can anticipate a veteran and skilled 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 at the site at any time of the day or night in order to acquire important evidence for your case.
• Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were nearby. As buses carry many passengers, there are almost always a lot of people who want the same answers and compensation you seek. Eyewitness testimony is a essential part of winning your case.
• Obtain further evidence such as tire marks, surveillance videos, police reports, and key details such as how many miles the driver had driven without taking a break or when the last inspection and maintenance was done on the bus. Several different factors give rise to bus accidents, and your Burger Law Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney will determine the "whys" of the crash and who needs to be held responsible.
• Utilize our network of Lincoln County, MO auto wreck and medical experts to determine negligence for your bus accident injuries and put a figure on precisely how much your damages are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are entitled to and we will utilize our know-how and expertise to ensure you recover it.
• Stand up to resistant Lincoln County, MO insurance companies who care more about their profits than your well-being. We have seen every trick in the book that insurance companies use to try and devalue your claim. When you hire us, you can be sure those ploys 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 finely honed 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 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 charge no attorneys fees until you are fully compensated. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a devastating 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 Lincoln County, 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 discover what entity is responsible for your injuries.

What Causes Bus Accidents? | Lincoln County, MO Bus Accident Attorney

• Driver age and experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that recently licensed 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 happened.
• Driver action. While the same study stated that only 4 percent of bus accidents were due to an egregious offense such as the driver being intoxicated, another 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 drowsy or distracted driving.
• Driver fatigue. A lot of bus drivers, particularly those that are employed by commercial bus lines such as Greyhound that necessitate drivers to drive hundreds of miles in the middle of the night, become sleepy and can even fall asleep behind the wheel. While most busing companies have regulations about how many hours a driver can drive during a day or how often 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 enforced or obeyed.
• Road conditions. Given buses’ mass and the awkwardness of maneuvering them, slippery roads or Lincoln County, MO construction areas can be especially risky for bus riders. Sometimes a third party such as a construction company will be negligent. Burger Law's bus accident attorney will help you determine if that applies case.
• Negligence by the bus company. Bus companies are regulated, but not close to 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 personnel responsible for reviews for more than 765,000 commercial motor vehicles, or only 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means reviews generally cannot keep up with the number of inspections required. Some Lincoln County, MO bus companies do not correctly maintain their vehicles, causing them to be less safe. Additionally, bus companies need to ensure 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. Some common examples are:
  • Potholes
  • Cracked or uneven pavement
  • Defective or missing traffic lights
  • Obstacles on the road, for instance branches or vehicle wreckage
  • Insufficient lighting
  • Excessive grades

  The more time the dangerous condition has been on the Lincoln County, MO street, the better your chances of holding the at-fault parties accountable. The at-fault party may be a local Lincoln County, MO government, or a third party whom the government contracted to eliminate the issue but either did not do so soon enough or did not sufficiently repair it.

Once your accomplished Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney establishes the cause of your wreck, they will be able to ascertain who is responsible for your injuries and how to proceed with winning you full compensation. Below are some examples of parties who are typically found liable in bus accident claims.

Commercial Bus Lines

Transport buses such as Greyhounds are considered common carriers under the law, which means they have a duty of care to their riders to maintain their safety. One facet of that duty of care is to ensure that their drivers are not driving too many miles without a break. In despite of 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 required to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the vehicle to hold off sleepiness. However, the rule is not enforced and is rarely followed as too many breaks could cause financial losses for the company. A 2012 government study found that 37 percent of all passenger bus crashes were caused by driver fatigue. Furthermore, many Greyhound passengers have said that their driver was eating when the crash took place, which is an example of distracted driving.

Making sure that Lincoln County, MO buses are properly 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 may be a consequence of a bus company either neglecting to conduct routine maintenance or failing to fix a broken part or component. Buses with more miles under their wheels are particularly vulnerable to breaking down and bus companies must keep their fleets updated.

Finally, bus companies cannot use negligent hiring practices. All drivers need to be properly licensed and trained, and should only be allowed to drive after passing strict background checks. Your Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will conduct a complete investigation into the bus company's hiring practices and the person who was driving when the accident took place.

A Bus Manufacturer

Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have a responsibility to certify the safety of their vehicles and swiftly issue recalls if a product is found to be dangerous. If they approve an inherently faulty 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 somebody else, your Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over 20 years of experience making sure liable parties are held responsible for their behavior.

The Lincoln County or Missouri Government or a Public Entity

Public transportation accidents can often be devastating because of the amount of people who could be injured and because they generally take place in densely populated areas. While you can make a claim against the Lincoln County, 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 personal injury claims. If you want 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 necessary to reach out to a Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney immediately 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 thoughtless public bus driver in Missouri.

The Bus Driver

Even a properly licensed and trained bus driver can cause an accident through driving mistakes. If they became distracted by looking at the roadside or talking, did not stop driving when they were feeling drowsy, did not pay attention to the Lincoln County, MO road conditions and driving laws while they were driving or made the dangerous decision to drive drunk, they need to be held accountable just like their employers sometimes have to be. When you board a bus you trust that driver with your safety and your life. If a bus driver does not take that responsibility to heart and causes you injury, you can be sure that the dedicated and tenacious bus accident attorney at Burger Law will hold them accountable.

The Other Driver

Like any type of auto collision, there are often two or more drivers, and in some instances they each may be responsible for a portion of the blame. Another driver’s recklessness, 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 wreck where there was another driver or drivers involved, your skilled and experienced Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney will help you establish 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 Lincoln County 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 Lincoln County, 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 conduct 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 Lincoln County, MO Recover For Me?

The compensation you collect in a bus accident case will typically be based on the gravity of your injuries and the repercussions they have on your life. You may have sustained a mild concussion that merely needed a quick trip to an emergency room in Lincoln County, MO and a short time off work. Or, you may have sustained 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 Lincoln County, 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, rehabilitation, assistive devices and medications
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential

  We work with our network of medical and economic experts to calculate 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 affected your life, Burger Law's Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney team will fight aggressively to ensure that you are awarded 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 Lincoln County, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today

We have seen every kind of bus accident case and know the tremendous anguish and catastrophic effect it can have on your and your family. Your Lincoln County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is passionate, accomplished, honest and relentless 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 hurt 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.