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Bus Accident Attorney in Neosho, MO
Bus Accident Attorney in Neosho, MO. If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a disastrous 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 the same attention as plane or train wrecks, even though the can often be equally as hazardous and deadly. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Neosho, MO bus drivers and bus companies to maintain our safety and obey the rules. When they eschew their duty and disregard the rules it can have devastating, sometimes permanent consequences for you or the people you care about. Your Neosho, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will ensure that you collect the maximum 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 Neosho and throughout Missouri and standing up to bullies like resistant insurance companies and people who carelessly do not want to be held accountable for their negligent behavior. Our Neosho, MO clients have put their claims and their futures in our knowledgeable hands, and in total we have recovered for them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their determination, commitment, tenacity, knowledge and experience to help right wrongs in personal injury cases and help Neosho, MO residents become whole again. You should not have to lose wages, pay for ridiculous medical costs and also handle the emotional trauma of your injury just because someone else disregarded the rules. If you or a family member has been hurt in a Neosho, 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 case review. We begin 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 Neosho, MO because of somebody else's thoughtless actions, discover how much your injury may be worth by filling out our personal injury calculator.
What's The Process to Settle My Personal Injury Claim?
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Do I Need a Neosho, MO Bus Accident Attorney?
If you have received injuries in a bus accident, you are likely feeling especially powerless. After all, you were not the one driving and you got on the bus under the impression that that the correct safety protocols were obeyed. Neosho, MO bus companies and drivers have stringent laws they are supposed to respect, but sometimes they neglect 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 heal from, may have permanent effects or in the worst cases can even result in wrongful death. The Neosho, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will stand in your corner 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 best possible compensation you are owed. We have seen every type of bus accident claim and know every trick insurance companies use to try and deceive injured Neosho, MO individuals and families into settling for less money than they deserve. Those Neosho, MO insurance companies fear us because they know our bus accident attorney team takes up – and wins – the tough cases. Call us today and let the compassionate, seasoned 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 complex and can be difficult to comprehend for Neosho, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial capabilities of an accomplished bus accident attorney. We have over 20 years of experience standing up to bullies and fighting the hard cases. When you hire our Neosho, MO bus accident attorney team, we oversee every facet of your case. You can expect an accomplished and knowledgeable bus accident attorney at Burger Law to:
- Investigate the accident site as soon as possible. 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 key evidence for your claim.
- Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were nearby. As buses carry multiple passengers, there are often many people who want the same answers and compensation you need. We will perform official depositions of eyewitnesses to aid in your case.
- Acquire further evidence such as tire marks, security footage, police reports, and important details such as how long the driver had driven that day or when the last inspection and repairs were conducted on the bus. Several different factors contribute to bus accidents, and your Burger Law Neosho, MO bus accident attorney will determine the "whys" of the accident and who needs to be held liable.
- Utilize our network of Neosho, MO accident and medical experts to determine negligence for your bus accident injuries and put a figure on exactly how much your damages are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are owed and we will implement our savvy and expertise to make sure you collect it.
- Stand up to resistant Neosho, MO insurance companies who are more concerned for their bottom line than your well-being. 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 expert litigation skills to win you a great financial recovery for your damages.
Additionally, our bus accident attorney team will be in your corner 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. You owe us no attorneys fees until you are fully compensated. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a calamitous bus accident, contact an expert and committed bus accident attorney at Burger Law today.
Who is Liable for My Bus Accident Injuries?
Because it takes so many people to run a bus safely, from manufacturers, to bus companies to drivers, you will first need to determine the cause of the accident before determining who is liable. Thankfully, an accomplished and skilled Neosho, 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 find out what entity needs to be held accountable for your injuries.
What Causes Bus Accidents? | Neosho, MO Bus Accident Attorney
- The age of the driver and their experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that novice drivers under the age of 25, in addition to 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 caused by a serious offense such as driving while intoxicated, another study by the University of Michigan reported that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus crashes had been cited with driving errors, for example, speeding, being fatigued or distracted driving.
- Driver fatigue. A good deal of bus drivers, particularly the ones that work for commercial bus lines such as Greyhound that require drivers to drive hundreds of miles in the middle of the night, become sleepy and can even fall asleep at the wheel. While most busing companies have specifications about how many hours a driver can drive during without a break 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 followed.
- Road conditions. Given buses’ weight and the awkwardness of steering them, slick roads or Neosho, MO construction areas can be especially dangerous for bus commuters. Occasionally a third party such as a construction company will be at fault. 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 overseen by regulatory bodies, 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 personnel responsible for reviews for more than 765,000 motor carriers, or just 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means reviews typically cannot keep up with the amount of inspections needed. Some Neosho, MO bus companies do not properly inspect their vehicles, causing them to be a hazard. Additionally, bus companies need to make sure that their drivers are sufficiently trained and are not overworked.
- Dangerous roads. Unsafe road conditions or hazards in the road can lead to a driver losing control and causing an accident. A Few typical examples are:
- Potholes
- Cracked or uneven pavement
- Defective or missing traffic signals
- Obstacles on the road, for example branches or vehicle wreckage
- Inadequate lighting
- Excessive grades
The longer the hazardous condition has been on the Neosho, MO road, the better chance you have of holding the liable parties accountable. The negligent party may be a local Neosho, MO government, or a third party whom the government contracted to eliminate the problem but either did not do so in a timely fashion or did not sufficiently repair it.
Once your accomplished Neosho, MO bus accident attorney confirm the cause of your crash, they will be able to confirm who is responsible for your injuries and how to go forward with securing you a full financial recovery. Below are some examples of parties who are generally found at-fault in bus accident cases.
Commercial Bus Companies
Transportation buses such as Greyhounds are considered common carriers legally speaking, which means they have a duty of care to their patrons to look out for their safety. Part of that duty of care is to make certain that their drivers are not being overworked. In despite of insisting that safety is their top priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not following its own rules in regards to driver fatigue. Drivers are technically required to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the bus to prevent fatigue. However, the rule is not enforced and is not often obeyed 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 riders have said that their driver was eating during the time of a crash, which constitutes distracted driving.
Making sure that Neosho, MO buses are correctly inspected and repaired and that they have safety equipment such as seatbelts are also part of the bus company's responsibility. A bus accident could be because of a bus company either neglecting to provide routine inspections or failing to repair a broken part or component. Buses with more miles under their wheels are particularly predisposed to breaking down and bus companies must keep their fleets updated.
Lastly, bus companies need to be mindful in their hiring practices. All drivers need to be correctly licensed and trained, and should only be allowed to drive after passing strict background checks. Your Neosho, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will carry out a complete 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 ensure the safety of their products and quickly issue recalls in the event of a malfunctioning product. 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 shift the blame to someone else, your Neosho, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over two decades of experience making sure careless parties are held responsible for their behavior.
The Neosho or Missouri Government or a Public Entity
Public transportation accidents can often be catastrophic because of the number of people involved and because they often happen in metropolitan areas. While you can file a suit against the Neosho, MO government, there are special procedures for doing so. Missouri has sovereign immunities for governmental bodies and government employees than for the average citizen in tort suits. 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 urgent to get in touch with a Neosho, MO bus accident attorney immediately 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 an at-fault or thoughtless public bus driver in Missouri.
The Bus Driver
Even a properly licensed and trained bus driver can cause a wreck owing to driving mistakes. If they became distracted by looking at the roadside or talking, did not stop driving when they were feeling overly tired, did not pay attention to the Neosho, MO road conditions and driving laws while they were driving or made the terrible decision to drive drunk, they need to be held responsible just like their employers sometimes have to be. When you board a bus you trust that driver with your well-being and your life. If a bus driver does not take that duty to heart and causes you injury, you can be confident that the devoted and relentless bus accident attorney at Burger Law will hold them responsible.
The Other Driver
Like any type of motor vehicle wreck, two or more drivers are often involved, 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 injure you. If you were hurt in a bus crash where there was another driver or drivers involved, your talented and seasoned Neosho, 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 crash in Neosho 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 at fault, a school district in Neosho, MO may also be held accountable, for example if they did not cancel school on a day when road conditions were particularly dangerous or they did not perform 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 Neosho, MO Recover For Me?
The compensation you are awarded 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 Neosho, MO and a week or two off work. Or, you may have sustained 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 Neosho, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will make sure that you secure a maximum 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, rehabilitation, assistive devices and medications
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
We use our team of medical and economic experts to calculate the exact dollar amount you are entitled to, 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 affected your life, Burger Law's Neosho, MO bus accident attorney team will fight relentlessly to ensure that you are awarded 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 Neosho, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today
We have seen every variety of bus accident case and know the tremendous anguish and disastrous effect it can have on your and the people you care about. Your Neosho, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is empathetic, accomplished, honest and tenacious and will use every bit of the knowledge and abilities we have gained over the past two decades to win you the the best possible recovery you rightfully deserve. 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.