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Bus Accident Attorney in Pulaski County, MO
Bus Accident Attorney in Pulaski County, MO. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a destructive bus accident, take control of 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 wrecks, even though the can frequently be just as harmful and fatal. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Pulaski County, MO bus drivers and bus companies to keep us safe and follow the rules. When they eschew their duty and disregard the rules it can have terrible, sometimes permanent effects for you or the people you care about. Your Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make certain that you get 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 Pulaski County and throughout Missouri and fighting back against bullies like resistant insurance companies and people who egotistically do not want to take responsibility for their thoughtless behavior. Our Pulaski County, MO clients have put their cases and their futures in our capable 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, commitment, persistence, knowledge and experience to help right wrongs in personal injury cases and help Pulaski County, MO residents on their road to recovery. You should not have to lose work, pay for extortionate medical costs and also handle the emotional scars of your injury just because somebody else disregarded the rules. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Pulaski County, 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 complimentary case review. We get started on your case straight away, and you do not owe us any fees until we win you the compensation you are entitled to.
If you were injured in a bus accident in Pulaski County, MO because of someone else's negligent behavior, discover how much your claim 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 Pulaski County, MO Bus Accident Attorney?
If you were caused injuries in a bus accident, you are likely feeling especially unshielded. After all, you were not the one driving and you got on the bus presuming that the proper safety arrangements were adhered to. Pulaski County, MO bus companies and drivers have stringent rules they have a duty to obey, but sometimes they neglect those obligations and they leave us to pick up the pieces. Because of the force that is generally exerted by bus accidents, injuries can take years to fully heal from, may have lifelong effects or in the most tragic cases can even lead to wrongful death. The Pulaski County, 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 at once, and work relentlessly until you win the maximum compensation you deserve. We have experienced with every type of bus accident case and know every trick insurance companies use to try and defraud injured Pulaski County, MO individuals and families into settling for less money than they deserve. Those Pulaski County, MO insurance companies are afraid of us because they know our bus accident attorney team takes up – 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 proceedings are complicated and can be unforgiving to Pulaski County, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial abilities of an accomplished bus accident attorney. For over 20 years standing up to bullies and fighting the hard cases. When you hire our Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney team, we manage every detail of your claim. You can anticipate a veteran and skilled bus accident attorney at Burger Law to:
- Investigate the crash 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 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 usually other people who want the same answers and compensation you need. We will take official depositions of eyewitnesses to aid in your case.
- Obtain further evidence such as tire marks, surveillance videos, police reports, and important details such as how many miles the driver had driven that day or when the last inspection and repairs were conducted on the bus. Many different factors cause bus accidents, and your Burger Law Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney will determine the "whys" of the crash and who needs to be held accountable.
- Work alongside our network of Pulaski County, MO auto wreck and medical experts to determine liability for your bus accident injuries and compute 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 collect it.
- Stand up to resistant Pulaski County, MO insurance companies who care more about their bottom line 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 ploys will not work in your case.
- Take the fight in front of a judge and jury if the insurance company will not offer a fair settlement, we will use our constantly trained litigation skills to secure you a great financial recovery for your damages.
Beyond that, our bus accident attorney team will be keeping you informed entire time. We take control of 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 get the best possible compensation. If you or a loved one has been injured 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 bus drivers, companies and manufacturers all have a role to play in running a bus safely you will first need to discover the cause of the accident before determining who caused your injuries. Fortunately, an accomplished and skilled Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney like those at Burger Law have seen every category of car accident, truck accident and bus accident case and will be able to discover what entity is liable for your injuries.
What Causes Bus Accidents? | Pulaski County, MO Bus Accident Attorney
- Driver age and experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that inexperienced 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 happened.
- Driver action. While the same study stated that only 4 percent of bus accidents were because of a serious offense such as driving while intoxicated, a different study by the University of Michigan reported that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus crashes had committed driving errors, for instance, speeding, being fatigued or distracted driving.
- Driver fatigue. A lot of bus drivers, especially the ones that work for commercial bus companies such as Greyhound that require drivers to drive hundreds of miles at all hours of the day or night, become drowsy and can even fall asleep at the wheel. While most busing companies have specifications about how many hours a driver can drive during a day or how frequently they have to take a break, those regulations 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 obeyed.
- Road hazards. Given buses’ weight and the intricacy of maneuvering them, slick roads or Pulaski County, MO construction areas can be particularly dangerous for bus commuters. Sometimes a third party such as a construction company will be liable. Burger Law's bus accident attorney will help you determine if that is true in your case.
- Negligence by the bus company. Bus companies are overseen by regulatory entities, 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 inspectors responsible for inspections of more than 765,000 commercial motor vehicles, or a mere 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means inspectors often cannot keep up with the number of inspections needed. Some Pulaski County, MO bus companies do not correctly repair their vehicles, causing them to be a hazard. Additionally, bus companies are required to make certain that their drivers are correctly trained and do not drive too long without a break.
- Dangerous roads. Unsafe road conditions or hazards in the road can result in a driver losing control and crashing. A Few typical examples are:
- Potholes
- Uneven pavement or cracks in the pavement
- Malfunctioning or missing traffic signals
- Obstacles on the road, such as branches or vehicle wreckage
- Insufficient lighting
- Excessive grades
The more time the hazardous condition has been on the Pulaski County, MO road, the better chance you have of holding the at-fault parties accountable. The negligent party may be a local Pulaski County, MO government, or a third party whom the government contracted to eliminate the condition but either did not do so quickly enough or did not correctly repair it.
Once your talented Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney deduces the reasons for your accident, they will be able to establish who is responsible for your injuries and how to take the next steps toward securing you maximum compensation. Below are some examples of parties who are frequently found liable in bus accident cases.
Commercial Bus Companies
Transport buses such as Greyhounds are regarded as common carriers under the law, which means they have a duty of care to their patrons to maintain their safety. One aspect of that duty of care is to make certain that their drivers are not being overworked. Despite insisting that safety is their foremost priority, a CNN report in 2016 found that Greyhound is not obeying its own rules when it comes to driver fatigue. Drivers are theoretically obligated to stop every 150 miles and get out to inspect the bus to prevent drowsiness. However, the rule is not enforced and is rarely obeyed as too many breaks could lead to financial losses for the company. A 2012 government study reported that 37 percent of all passenger bus crashes were due to driver fatigue. Furthermore, many Greyhound riders have reported that their driver was eating during the time of a crash, which constitutes distracted driving.
Making sure that Pulaski County, MO buses are properly inspected and maintained and that they have safety equipment such as seatbelts are also part of the bus company's duty. A bus accident might be a consequence of a bus company either neglecting to conduct routine maintenance or neglecting to repair a broken part or component. Buses with more miles under their wheels are particularly vulnerable to breaking down and bus companies need to keep their fleets updated.
Finally, bus companies cannot use negligent hiring practices. All drivers need to be adequately licensed and trained, and should only be able to drive after passing strict background checks. Your Pulaski County, 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 occurred.
A Bus Manufacturer
Like car and other motor vehicle manufacturers, bus manufacturers have a duty to guarantee the safety of their vehicles and quickly issue recalls if a product is discovered to be unsafe. 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 someone else, your Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law has over two decades of experience making sure at-fault parties are held accountable for their behavior.
The Pulaski County or Missouri Government or a Public Entity
Public transportation accidents can frequently be calamitous because of the number of people involved and because they usually occur in metropolitan areas. While you can seek compensation from the Pulaski County, MO government, there are particular procedures for doing so. Missouri has sovereign immunities for governmental entities and government employees than for the average citizen in injury liability 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 essential to get in touch with a Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney right 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 careless public bus driver in Missouri.
The Bus Driver
Even a properly licensed and trained bus driver can cause a wreck through driving mistakes. If they became distracted by looking at the roadside or talking, did not stop when they were feeling sleepy, did not pay attention to the Pulaski County, MO road conditions and driving laws while they were driving or made the horrible 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 committed and tenacious bus accident attorney at Burger Law will hold them responsible.
The Other Driver
Like any type of auto crash, there are frequently two or more drivers, and in some cases they each may be responsible for 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 injure you. If you were hurt in a bus wreck where there was another driver or drivers involved, your skilled and experienced Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney will help you determine 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 Pulaski County and Missouri. Nationally, school bus accidents account for 40 percent of all fatal bus wrecks. While often the driver, bus company or bus manufacturer is at fault, a school district in Pulaski County, MO may also be held responsible, for example if they did not cancel school on a day when weather conditions were especially bad 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 Pulaski County, MO Recover For Me?
The compensation you recover in a bus accident case will typically be based on the gravity of your injuries and the ramifications they have on your life. You may have sustained a sprained ankle that only required a quick trip to an emergency room in Pulaski County, MO and a week or two off work. Or, you may have sustained a devastating spinal cord injury that leaves you disabled and in need of assistive devices for the remainder of your life. When you hire a dedicated and accomplished Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will make sure 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, rehabilitation, assistive devices and medications
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
We use 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 severe your injuries and however much they have impacted your life, Burger Law's Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney team will fight relentlessly to ensure that you are awarded 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 Pulaski County, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today
We have seen every sort of bus accident case and know the incalculable anguish and disastrous effect it can have on your and the people you care about. Your Pulaski County, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is empathetic, accomplished, honest and determined and will use every bit of the knowledge and skills we have obtained over the past 20 years to win you the the best possible recovery you are rightfully owed. 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.