Standing by your side
Bus Accident Attorney in Warrensburg, MO
Bus Accident Attorney in Warrensburg, MO. If you or a family member 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 rarely get equal attention as plane or train accidents, even though the can often be similarly hazardous and deadly. In 2020, there were 964 bus accidents in Missouri that resulted in personal injury or death. We trust Warrensburg, MO bus drivers and bus companies to keep us safe and follow the rules. When they eschew their responsibilities and do not respect the rules it can have devastating, sometimes lifelong consequences for you or the people you care about. Your Warrensburg, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make sure that you receive the best possible compensation that you are owed for your damages.
At Burger Law, our bus accident attorney team has more than two decades of experience defending the injured in Warrensburg and throughout Missouri and standing up to bullies like deceptive insurance companies and people who egocentrically do not want to be held accountable for their negligent behavior. Our Warrensburg, MO clients have put their cases and their futures in our trustworthy hands, and to date we have gotten them over $175 million in verdicts and settlements. Our bus accident attorney team uses their determination, devotion, resolution, knowledge and experience to help right wrongs in personal injury cases and help Warrensburg, MO residents heal. You should not have to lose work, pay for expensive medical bills and also handle the emotional scars of your injury only because another person broke the rules. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Warrensburg, MO bus accident, contact the bus accident attorney of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation. We start working on your claim at once, 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 Warrensburg, MO because of someone else's careless actions, discover how much your damages may be worth by filling out our personal injury calculator.
What's The Process to Settle My Personal Injury Claim?
Click to view video
Do I Need a Warrensburg, MO Bus Accident Attorney?
If you have experienced injuries in a bus accident, we know you are feeling especially unprotected. After all, you were not the driver and you got on the bus under the impression that that the proper safety arrangements were adhered to. Warrensburg, MO bus companies and drivers have strict regulations they are supposed to follow, but sometimes they fail in 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 truly recover from, may have permanent effects or in the most terrible cases can even lead to wrongful death. The Warrensburg, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will stand in your corner so you are not required to go it alone. When you hire us we start investigating on your case immediately, and work tirelessly until you get the maximum compensation you are entitled to. We have made a claim for every type of bus accident claim and know every trick insurance companies use to try and defraud injured Warrensburg, MO individuals and families into accepting less compensation than they entitled to. Those Warrensburg, MO insurance companies are afraid of us because they know our bus accident attorney team takes up – and wins – the difficult cases. Call us today and let the passionate, accomplished and tenacious bus accident lawyers at Burger Law help you safeguard your family’s future and help make you whole again.
Legal proceedings are complex and can be difficult to comprehend for Warrensburg, MO residents who do not have the litigation and trial capabilities of an accomplished bus accident attorney. For over two decades fighting back against bullies and fighting the hard fight. When you hire our Warrensburg, MO bus accident attorney team, we handle every aspect of your claim. You can expect a seasoned and talented 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 on the scene at any time during the day or night in order to secure essential evidence for your claim.
- Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were close by. As buses carry multiple passengers, there are almost always a lot of passengers who want the same answers and financial recovery you seek. Eyewitness testimony is a vital part of proving your case.
- Obtain further evidence such as tire marks, security footage, police reports, as well as key details such as how many miles the driver had driven that day or when the last inspection and repairs were conducted on the bus. A lot of different factors play a part in bus accidents, and your Burger Law Warrensburg, MO bus accident attorney will determine why the crash happened and who needs to be held responsible.
- Use our network of Warrensburg, MO crash and medical experts to determine negligence for your bus accident injuries and put a figure on exactly how much your injuries are worth. You deserve every dime of what you are entitled to and we will implement our experience and expertise to make sure you collect it.
- Stand up to resistant Warrensburg, MO insurance companies who care more about their bottom line 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 schemes 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 expert litigation skills to secure you a full financial recovery for your damages.
Beyond that, our bus accident attorney team will be in your corner whole time. We take control of all communication, documentation and litigation so that you can spend all of your energy on healing and making your family whole again. You owe us no attorneys fees until you get fair compensation. If you or a family member has been hurt in a ruinous bus accident, contact an expert and dedicated bus accident attorney at Burger Law today.
Who is Liable for My Bus Accident Injuries?
Because it requires so many people to run a bus safely, from manufacturers, to bus companies to drivers, you will first need to discover the cause of the accident before determining who was negligent. Fortunately, an accomplished and skilled Warrensburg, 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 who is responsible for your injuries.
What Causes Bus Accidents? | Warrensburg, MO Bus Accident Attorney
- Driver age and experience. A 2012 Journal of Safety Research study found that beginner 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 reported that a mere 4 percent of bus accidents were owing to a grave offense such as drunk driving, a different study by the University of Michigan stated that 31 percent of bus drivers in metropolitan area bus crashes had been cited with driving errors, for example, speeding, being drowsy or distracted driving.
- Driver fatigue. A good deal of bus drivers, particularly those that are employed by commercial bus companies such as Greyhound that necessitate drivers to drive hundreds of miles at all hours of the day or 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 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 mandatory or obeyed.
- Road hazards. Given buses’ mass and the intricacy of steering them, icy roads or Warrensburg, MO construction areas can be particularly hazardous for bus commuters. Occasionally a third party such as a construction company is negligent. Burger Law's bus accident attorney will help you discover if that is true in your 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 inspectors responsible for reviews for more than 765,000 motor carriers, or just 1.15 inspectors per 1,000 motor carriers. This means reviews frequently cannot stay ahead of the number of inspections needed. Some Warrensburg, MO bus companies do not adequately maintain their vehicles, causing them to be a hazard. Additionally, bus companies are required to make certain that their drivers are properly trained and do not drive too long without a break.
- Hazardous roads. Hazards in the road and road conditions can cause a driver to lose control and crash. A Few typical examples are:
- Potholes
- Uneven pavement or cracks in the pavement
- Malfunctioning or missing traffic signals
- Obstacles on the road, for instance branches or vehicle wreckage
- Inadequate lighting
- Excessive grades
The longer the hazardous condition has been on the Warrensburg, MO street, the better your chances of holding the liable parties accountable. The at-fault party may be a local Warrensburg, MO government, or a third party whom the government paid to repair the condition but either did not do so quickly enough or did not correctly repair it.
Once your knowledgeable Warrensburg, MO bus accident attorney establishes the reasons for your crash, they will be able to determine who is at-fault for your injuries and how to proceed with getting you the best possible compensation. Below are some examples of parties who are frequently found at-fault in bus accident cases.
Commercial Bus Companies
Transport buses such as Greyhounds are considered common carriers legally speaking, which means they have a duty of care to their customers to maintain their safety. Part of that duty of care is to make certain that their drivers are not driving too many hours in a day. Despite insisting that safety is their top 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 vehicle to inhibit drowsiness. 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 because of driver fatigue. Moreover, many Greyhound customers have stated that their driver was eating when the crash occurred, which is an example of distracted driving.
Ensuring that Warrensburg, MO buses are sufficiently inspected and repaired and that safety equipment such as seatbelts are present and up-to-date are also the responsibility of the bus company. A bus accident might be the result of a bus company either neglecting to carry out routine inspections or neglecting to repair a broken part or component. Buses with more miles under their wheels are particularly predisposed 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 sufficiently licensed and trained, and should only be allowed to drive after passing stringent background checks. Your Warrensburg, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law will perform 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 responsibility to guarantee the safety of their products and swiftly issue recalls if a product is found to be hazardous. If they approve an inherently unsafe 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 attempt to shift the blame to someone else, your Warrensburg, 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 Warrensburg or Missouri Government or a Public Entity
Public transportation accidents can frequently be catastrophic because of the amount of people who could be injured and because they generally happen in densely populated areas. While you can seek compensation from the Warrensburg, MO government, there are special procedures for doing so. Missouri has sovereign immunities for governmental entities and government employees than for the average citizen in personal injury claims. If you want 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 vital to get in touch with a Warrensburg, 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 operating 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 through 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 Warrensburg, 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 to heart and causes you injury, you can be sure that the committed and aggressive bus accident attorney at Burger Law will make them pay.
The Other Driver
Like any type of auto wreck, there are frequently two or more drivers, and in some cases they each may be responsible for a portion of the blame. Another driver’s negligence, such as speeding, driving while intoxicated or pulling in front of the bus too quickly can harm you. If you were harmed in a bus crash where there was another driver or drivers involved, your talented and veteran Warrensburg, MO bus accident attorney will help you ascertain if they are at fault 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 commonly see in Warrensburg 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 liable, a school district in Warrensburg, MO may also be held accountable, for example if they did not cancel school on a day when weather conditions were particularly poor 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 Warrensburg, MO Recover For Me?
The compensation you recover in a bus accident case will typically be based on the severity of your injuries and the consequences they have on your life. You may have sustained a mild concussion that just required a quick trip to an emergency room in Warrensburg, 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 Warrensburg, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law, we will ensure that you secure 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 expenses, such as hospital bills, physical therapy, assistive devices and medications
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
We work with our network of medical and economic experts to quantify 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 Warrensburg, MO bus accident attorney team will fight relentlessly to ensure that you get 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 Warrensburg, MO Bus Accident Attorney Today
We have seen every kind of bus accident case and know the tremendous pain and ruinous effect it can have on your and your family. Your Warrensburg, MO bus accident attorney at Burger Law is empathetic, accomplished, straightforward and determined and will use every bit of the knowledge and skills we have gained over the past two decades to secure you the the best possible recovery you are rightfully owed. 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.