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Bus Accident Attorney in Overland, MO
Bus Accident Attorney in Overland, MO. If you or a family member has been injured 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 rarely get equal attention as plane or train accidents, even though the can oftentimes be similarly harmful and fatal. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Overland, MO bus drivers and bus companies to maintain our safety and follow the rules. When they eschew their obligations and disregard the rules it can have devastating, sometimes permanent outcomes for you or the people you care about. Your Overland, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make sure that you recover the maximum compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
At Burger Law, our bus accident attorney team has more than 20 years of experience fighting for the rights of the injured in Overland and throughout Missouri and standing up to bullies like resistant insurance companies and people who egocentrically do not want to be held responsible for their negligent actions. Our Overland, MO clients have put their cases and their futures in our knowledgeable hands, and to date we have won them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their determination, commitment, tenacity, knowledge and experience to help secure justice in personal injury cases and help Overland, MO residents on their road to recovery. You should not have to lose wages, pay for exorbitant medical bills and also manage the emotional impact of your injury just because somebody else disregarded the rules. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a Overland, MO bus accident, get in touch with 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 claim immediately, and you do not owe us any fees until we win your case.
If you were injured in a bus accident in Overland, MO because of another person's careless behavior, find out how much your injury may be worth by using our personal injury calculator.
What's The Process to Settle My Personal Injury Claim?
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Do I Need a Overland, MO Bus Accident Attorney?
If you have experienced injuries in a bus accident, we know you are feeling especially unshielded. After all, you were not the one driving and you got on board the bus supposing that the appropriate safety measures were obeyed. Overland, MO bus companies and drivers have firm laws they have a responsibility to obey, but sometimes they neglect those obligations and they leave us to pick up the pieces. Because of the force that is typically caused by bus accidents, injuries can take years to truly heal from, may have lifelong consequences or in the most tragic cases can even lead to wrongful death. The Overland, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will fight on your behalf so you are not required to go it alone. When you hire us we begin working on your case straight away, and will not let up until you recover the best possible compensation you deserve. We have seen every type of bus accident injury and know every trick insurance companies use to try and deceive injured Overland, MO individuals and families into accepting a lower recovery than they entitled to. Those Overland, 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 compassionate, veteran and tenacious bus accident lawyers at Burger Law help you safeguard your family’s future and help make you whole again.
The legal process is complicated and can be difficult to comprehend for Overland, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial skills of an accomplished bus accident attorney. For over 20 years standing up to bullies and fighting the hard cases. When you hire our Overland, MO bus accident attorney team, we oversee every detail of your claim. You can anticipate an accomplished and knowledgeable bus accident attorney at Burger Law to:
- Investigate the accident site immediately. 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 obtain essential evidence for your claim.
- Interview eyewitnesses who were either also sustained injuries in the crash or were close by. As buses carry many passengers, there are often a lot of passengers who want the same answers and financial recovery you need. Eyewitness testimony is a essential part of proving your case.
- Collect additional evidence such as tire marks, security videos, police reports, and key details such as how far the driver had driven without taking a break or when the last inspection and repairs were done on the bus. Many different factors give rise to bus accidents, and your Burger Law Overland, MO bus accident attorney will find out why the crash happened and who needs to be held liable.
- Work with our network of Overland, MO crash and medical experts to determine liability for your bus accident injuries and put a figure on precisely how much your injuries are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are entitled to and we will implement our savvy and expertise to make sure you recover it.
- Fight back against resistant Overland, MO insurance companies who are more concerned for their profits 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 responsibility 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 constantly trained litigation skills to secure you a great financial recovery for your damages.
Furthermore, our bus accident attorney team will be in your corner whole 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. We collect no attorneys fees until you get the best possible compensation. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a ruinous bus accident, contact an expert and committed bus accident attorney at Burger Law today.
Who is Liable for My Bus Accident Injuries?
Since bus drivers, companies and manufacturers all have a part to play in operating a bus safely you will first need to learn the cause of the accident before determining who was negligent. Fortunately, an accomplished and skilled Overland, 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 determine who needs to be held liable for your injuries.
What Causes Bus Accidents? | Overland, 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 55 years old were more likely to be driving when a bus accident occurred.
- Driver action. While the same study stated that just 4 percent of bus accidents were caused by a grave offense such as the driver being intoxicated, another study by the University of Michigan reported that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus crashes had committed driving errors, for example, speeding, being drowsy or distracted driving.
- Driver fatigue. A lot of bus drivers, particularly the ones that work for 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 at the wheel. While most busing companies have regulations about how many hours a driver can drive during without a break 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 mandatory or complied with.
- Road hazards. Given buses’ mass and the intricacy of steering them, slippery roads or Overland, MO construction areas can be particularly hazardous for bus commuters. Occasionally a third party such as a construction company will be liable. Burger Law's bus accident attorney will help you discover if that is the 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 people responsible for reviews for over 765,000 motor carriers, or only 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means reviews often cannot keep pace with the amount of inspections needed. Some Overland, MO bus companies do not adequately maintain their vehicles, causing them to be less safe. Additionally, bus companies are mandated to make certain that their drivers are sufficiently trained and do not drive too many hours without a break.
- Hazardous roads. Hazards in the road and road conditions can cause a driver to lose control and crash. Some common examples are:
- Potholes
- Uneven pavement or cracks in the pavement
- Malfunctioning or missing traffic lights
- Obstacles on the road, such as branches or vehicle wreckage
- Inadequate lighting
- Excessive grades
The longer the hazardous condition has been on the Overland, MO street, the better chance you have of holding the negligent parties accountable. The liable party may be a local Overland, MO government, or a third party whom the government hired to fix the problem but either did not do so soon enough or did not sufficiently repair it.
Once your experienced Overland, MO bus accident attorney deduces the cause of your crash, they will be able to ascertain who is at-fault for your injuries and how to proceed with securing you a maximum financial recovery. Below are some examples of parties who are often found liable in bus accident claims.
Commercial Bus Companies
Transportation buses such as Greyhounds are considered common carriers under the law, which means they have a duty of care to their riders to look out for their safety. Part of that duty of care is to make certain that their drivers are not being overworked. Despite saying that safety is their utmost priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not following its own rules in regards to driver fatigue. Drivers are theoretically mandated to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the vehicle to stave off fatigue. However, the rule is not enforced and is rarely obeyed as too many breaks could cause 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 riders have said that their driver was eating when the crash took place, which is an example of distracted driving.
Making certain that Overland, MO buses are properly inspected and maintained and that they have safety equipment such as seatbelts are also part of the bus company's obligation. A bus accident could be a consequence of a bus company either neglecting to conduct routine maintenance or failing to fix 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 cannot use negligent hiring practices. All drivers need to be sufficiently licensed and trained, and should only be able to drive after passing strict background checks. Your Overland, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will conduct a full 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 verify the safety of their products and swiftly issue recalls if a product is found to be dangerous. If they approve an inherently dangerous design or do not recall a component that they knew or should have known was not functioning properly, they are guilty of product liability. While they might attempt to place the blame on somebody else, your Overland, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over two decades of experience making sure reckless parties are held accountable for their actions.
The Overland or Missouri Government or a Public Entity
Public transportation accidents can frequently be devastating because of the amount of people involved and because they typically occur in densely populated areas. While you can make a claim against the Overland, MO government, there are special procedures for doing so. Missouri has stricter protections for governmental bodies and government employees than for the average citizen in tort cases. If you want to make a claim 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 imperative to reach out to a Overland, 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 a negligent or careless 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 eating or texting, did not stop driving when they were feeling fatigued, did not pay attention to the Overland, MO road conditions and driving laws while they were driving or made the dangerous decision to drive drunk, they need to be held responsible just like their employers sometimes have to be. When you go on board a bus you trust that driver with your safety and your life. If a bus driver does not take that duty seriously and causes you injury, you can be confident that the dedicated and relentless bus accident attorney at Burger Law will hold them accountable.
The Other Driver
Like any type of auto crash, there are frequently two or more drivers, and in some cases they each may share a percentage of the blame. Another driver’s recklessness, 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 skilled and experienced Overland, MO bus accident attorney will help you ascertain if they are responsible 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 Overland 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 Overland, MO may also be held accountable, for example 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 Overland, MO Recover For Me?
The compensation you recover in a bus accident case will generally depend on the seriousness of your injuries and how they have impacted and will impact they have on your life. You may have gotten a sprained wrist that just needed a quick trip to an emergency room in Overland, 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 special equipment for the remainder of your life. When you hire a dedicated and accomplished Overland, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will ensure that you are awarded 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 costs, such as hospital bills, rehabilitation, assistive devices and medications
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
We work alongside our team of medical and economic experts to compute 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 grave your injuries and however much they have affected your life, Burger Law's Overland, MO bus accident attorney team will fight aggressively 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 Overland, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today
We have seen every variety of bus accident case and know the immense pain and calamitous effect it can have on your and your family. Your Overland, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is compassionate, accomplished, honest and tenacious and will use every bit of the knowledge and abilities we have gained over the past 20 years to secure you the full 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 complimentary case review.