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Bus Accident Attorney in Osage Beach, MO
Bus Accident Attorney in Osage Beach, MO. If you or someone you care about has been injured 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 equal attention as plane or train crashes, even though the can oftentimes be equally as dangerous and fatal. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Osage Beach, MO bus drivers and bus companies to keep us safe and obey the rules. When they break that trust and do not respect the rules it can have terrible, sometimes permanent effects for you or your family. Your Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make certain that you get the full compensation that you deserve for your damages.
At Burger Law, our bus accident attorney team has more than two decades of experience fighting for the rights of the injured in Osage Beach 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 reckless behavior. Many Osage Beach, MO residents have put their claims and their futures in our trustworthy hands, and in total we have secured for them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their hard work, devotion, tenacity, knowledge and experience to help right wrongs in personal injury cases and help Osage Beach, MO residents on their road to recovery. You should not have to lose work, pay for ridiculous medical costs and also manage the emotional scars of your injury just because someone else disregarded the rules. If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a Osage Beach, MO bus accident, contact 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 right away, and you do not owe us any fees until we win you the financial recovery you are entitled to.
If you were injured in a bus accident in Osage Beach, MO because of someone else's negligent behavior, find out how much your damages 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 Osage Beach, MO Bus Accident Attorney?
If you were caused injuries in a bus accident, we know you are feeling especially vulnerable. After all, you were not the one driving and you got on board the bus under the assumption that the appropriate safety measures were adhered to. Osage Beach, MO bus companies and drivers have firm rules they have a responsibility to adhere to, but sometimes they fail in those responsibilities and they leave us to pick up the pieces. Because of the force that is frequently exerted by bus accidents, injuries can take years to really heal from, may have permanent consequences or in the most terrible cases can even cause wrongful death. The Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will stand in your corner so you do not have to go it alone. When you hire us we get to work on on your case immediately, and work tirelessly until you get the maximum compensation you are entitled to. We have seen every type of bus accident injury and know every trick insurance companies use to try and defraud injured Osage Beach, MO individuals and families into accepting less money than they entitled to. Those Osage Beach, MO insurance companies are afraid of us because they know our bus accident attorney team takes on – and wins – the complicated cases. Call us today and let the compassionate, accomplished and relentless bus accident lawyers at Burger Law help you safeguard your family’s future and help make you whole again.
Legal procedures are convoluted and can be difficult to comprehend for Osage Beach, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial experience 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 Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney team, we manage every detail of your case. You can anticipate a seasoned and talented 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 of the day or night in order to acquire essential evidence for your case.
- Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were close by. As buses carry a lot of passengers, there are usually other people who want the same answers and financial recovery you need. We will conduct official depositions of eyewitnesses to help in your case.
- Collect further evidence such as tire marks, security videos, police reports, in additional to important details such as how long the driver had driven without taking a break or when the last inspection and maintenance was done on the bus. A lot of different factors contribute to bus accidents, and your Burger Law Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney will discover the "whys" of the crash and who needs to be held responsible.
- Work alongside our network of Osage Beach, MO accident and medical experts to determine liability for your bus accident injuries and work out precisely how much your injuries are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are entitled to and we will use our savvy and expertise to make certain you recover it.
- Stand up to resistant Osage Beach, MO insurance companies who are more interested in their profits than your health. 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 tricks will not work in your case.
- Take your case in front of a judge and jury if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we will use our finely honed litigation skills to win you a full financial recovery for your damages.
Additionally, our bus accident attorney team will be keeping you informed entire time. We oversee 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 someone you care about has been harmed in a disastrous 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 operate a bus safely, from manufacturers, to bus companies to drivers, you will first need to discover the cause of the accident before determining who caused your injuries. Thankfully, an accomplished and skilled Osage Beach, 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 liable for your injuries.
What Causes Bus Accidents? | Osage Beach, MO Bus Accident Attorney
- Driver age and experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that beginner drivers under 25 years old, as well as more experienced drivers over 55 years old were more likely to be driving when a bus accident transpired.
- Driver action. While the same study found that just 4 percent of bus accidents were owing to a severe offense such as drunk driving, another study by the University of Michigan found that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus accidents had been cited with driving errors, for example, speeding, being drowsy or distracted driving.
- Driver fatigue. A lot of bus drivers, particularly those that work for commercial bus companies such as Greyhound that require 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 rules about how many hours a driver can drive during a day or how often 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 obligated or followed.
- Road hazards. Given buses’ mass and the intricacy of driving them, slick roads or Osage Beach, MO construction areas can be especially hazardous for bus commuters. 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 is the case.
- Negligence by the bus company. Bus companies are regulated, 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 more than 765,000 commercial motor vehicles, or a mere 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means inspectors often cannot stay ahead of the number of inspections required. Some Osage Beach, MO bus companies do not properly inspect their vehicles, causing them to be a hazard. Furthermore, bus companies are mandated to make certain that their drivers are sufficiently trained and are not overworked.
- Hazardous roads. Unsafe road conditions or hazards in the road can result in a driver losing control and causing an accident. Some typical examples are:
- Potholes
- Cracked or uneven pavement
- Faulty or missing traffic lights
- Obstacles on the road, such as branches or vehicle wreckage
- Insufficient lighting
- Excessive grades
The longer the hazardous condition has been on the Osage Beach, MO road, the better your odds of holding the at-fault parties responsible. The liable party may be a local Osage Beach, MO government, or a third party whom the government paid to eliminate the condition but either did not do so in a timely fashion or did not properly repair it.
Once your talented Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney determines the cause of your wreck, they will be able to ascertain who is responsible for your injuries and how to take the next steps toward delivering you maximum compensation. Below are some examples of parties who are often found at-fault in bus accident cases.
Commercial Bus Companies
Transportation buses such as Greyhounds are deemed common carriers under the law, which means they have a duty of care to their passengers to look out for their safety. Part of that duty of care is to ensure that their drivers are not driving too many hours without a break. 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 technically required to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the bus to inhibit sleepiness. 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. Furthermore, many Greyhound passengers have said that their driver was eating when the accident transpired, which constitutes distracted driving.
Making sure that Osage Beach, MO buses are sufficiently inspected and maintained and that they have safety equipment such as seatbelts are also the responsibility of the bus company. A bus accident might be the result 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 especially vulnerable to breaking down and bus companies need to keep their fleets updated.
Lastly, 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 Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will perform a complete investigation into the bus company's hiring practices and the person who was driving when the accident transpired.
A Bus Manufacturer
Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have a responsibility to confirm the safety of their vehicles and swiftly announce recalls if a product is found to be dangerous. If they approve an inherently defective 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 place the blame on somebody else, your Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over 20 years of experience making sure liable parties are held responsible for their actions.
The Osage Beach 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 often transpire in densely populated areas. While you can file a suit against the Osage Beach, 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 injury liability suits. 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 vital to get in touch with a Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney straight away after your injury. 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 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 because of driver error. If they became distracted by looking at the roadside or texting, did not stop driving when they were feeling sleepy, did not pay attention to the Osage Beach, 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 well-being and your life. If a bus driver does not take that responsibility to heart and causes you injury, you can be certain that the committed and relentless bus accident attorney at Burger Law will hold them accountable.
The Other Driver
Like any type of auto wreck, there are frequently two or more drivers, and in some instances they each may bear 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 talented and experienced Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney will help you establish if they are liable and if you should make a claim against their insurance company.
School Districts
School bus accidents are the the kind of bus crash we most typically see in Osage Beach 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 Osage Beach, MO may also be held accountable, for example if they did not cancel school on a day when weather conditions were especially dangerous or they did not carry out 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 Osage Beach, MO Recover For Me?
The compensation you recover in a bus accident case will typically be based on the severity of your injuries and how they have affected and will impact they have on your life. You may have gotten a mild concussion that only required a quick trip to an emergency room in Osage Beach, MO and a week or two off work. Or, you may have received a devastating 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 Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will make certain that you collect 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 expenses, such as hospital bills, physical therapy, assistive devices and medications
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
We utilize our team of medical and economic experts to calculate 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 serious your injuries and however much they have impacted your life, Burger Law's Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney team will fight tirelessly to ensure that you receive the best possible 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 Osage Beach, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today
We have seen every sort of bus accident case and know the tremendous anguish and calamitous effect it can have on your and your loved ones. Your Osage Beach, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is compassionate, accomplished, honest and persistent 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 rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one has been hurt 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 case evaluation.