Get the Compensation You Deserve
Bus Accident Attorneys
Millions of people ride commercial bus lines across the state and country. Bus riders have the right to assume that their driver gets held to a higher standard than the regular person on the road. But accidents still happen every day.
Contacting one of our attorneys can be a critical step to protecting your right to compensation, including compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, Pain and Suffering, punitive damages if the defendant’s conduct rose to the level of gross negligence, and more. Additionally, because there is limited time to file a personal injury claim, due to legal time deadlines as well as the necessity in quickly obtaining important evidence, acting soon after your accident can greatly help preserve your rights.
If you have been injured in a bus accident caused by someone’s negligence, contact our bus accident trial attorneys today to learn about your legal rights as well as what steps can be taken to protect those rights while holding those responsible accountable.
4
most common types
of bus accidents
Buses provide a method of transportation for many people on their daily commutes. The most common accidents that occur with buses are:
The Department of Transportation issued an urgent warning against the use of 15 passenger vans started that they had a much higher likelihood of rolling over. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration further pressed the issue by reminding drivers that the risk of a rollover is dramatically increased if there are ten or more people in the van.
The auto industry still manufactures these vans despite all the warnings from the U.S. government. If you have been injured by one of these vans call us today! You should never have to pay for medical expenses or anything else if you have been injured in a 15 passenger van crash. It is the manufacturers’ fault and they should pay for building such dangerous vehicles.
Public buses do not have seat belts or other safety features. This can make them incredibly dangerous especially in hazardous weather. They can cause serious and life-threatening injuries or even worse can be fatal.
Even worse, MARTA is controlled by a government entity. This can make claims extremely difficult to figure out and understand. An experienced McDonald & Cody bus accident trial attorney can properly establish what you need to do to receive compensation.
As already stated, millions of children are transported on yellow buses every single year. Sadly 12,000 children are injured each year in school bus accidents. While most of these injuries are minor in nature, some are life-altering or even fatal to some children.
If you or your child has been injured in a school bus accident, with the help of our experienced trial attorneys, you can receive monetary damages for your pain and suffering as well as any lost wages you may have had.
Hotels, airports, or other large establishments use shuttle buses to transport large numbers of people normally. While these shuttle buses are extremely convenient and make traveling easier, they do come with their risks.
Due to the size and shape of a shuttle bus, they are much more likely to be involved in an accident, than other types of buses. The awkward shape of the shuttle bus as well as frequent stopping often create blind spots on the road and thus lead to accidents.
FREE CASE EVALUATION
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Train & Railroad accident contact us today!
Why McDonald & Cody?
The philosophy at McDonald & Cody, LLC is to provide maximum results, one client at a time. We are dedicated to our cases and strive for quick, full and maximum compensation.
FYI - The Statute of Limitations for Bus Accidents
You have a certain amount of time to file a claim, but you may forfeit your opportunity if you wait too long. In addition, you have an obligation to report claims to insurance carriers. Still, there are usually multiple carriers in these cases, all wanting to close the case as quickly and cheaply as possible.
OCGA §9-3-33 generally gives Atlanta bus accident victims two years to file their claims. You should not take too long to get started. Instead, begin building your case immediately while the evidence and accident are still fresh. When people wait until the last minute to file a claim, they weaken their chances of getting a fair settlement.
The Bus Accident Lawsuit Process
When choosing an attorney, it is important to hire an one with experience investigating, negotiating, settling, and litigating these types of cases.
The strength of your case will rest on your attorney’s ability to collect evidence and present it in the most favorable light while illustrating the other party’s negligence. Your attorney may investigate the accident to determine whether negligence, examples of which are listed below, contributed to your crash:
- The driver’s failure to be aware of their surroundings
- Inadequate training
- Insufficient credentials
- Inadequate maintenance or manufacture of the bus
- Violation of traffic laws and specific bus regulations
- Operating the bus in excess of permitted speed limits
Your attorney’s investigation may include:
- Reviewing Atlanta police reports and photographs
- Collecting statements from witnesses (i.e., passengers, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority — MARTA — employees)
- Establishing weather conditions when the accident occurred
- Establishing whether all required bus regulations and local traffic laws were followed
- Analyzing your medical reports with medical experts to establish your injuries
- Re-creating the accident with the assistance of accident specialists
Your attorney will use the information gathered in the investigation when consulting with medical and economic experts. Your lawyer will work with these experts to determine which damages will be requested in your claim. Damages include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of intimacy and support
Using information uncovered in the investigation, your attorney will create a claim on your behalf. This claim will be the baseline of your lawsuit. Your attorney’s ability to leverage a settlement or prevail at trial will depend heavily on the information and evidence gathered during the initial investigation.
Using your claim, your attorney will attempt to reach a settlement before your lawsuit is officially filed with the court. If negotiations are unsuccessful, your attorney will submit your claim to the court, which will begin the official lawsuit process. Generally, the parties will engage in additional negotiations for a settlement offer while preparing their cases for trial in an attempt to keep the case from going to court. If negotiations are unsuccessful, your lawsuit will proceed to court, where your attorney will present your case in front of a judge.
How Do I Get Started?
CALL US or SUBMIT ONLINE
Statute of limitations may apply so don't delay having your accident or injury claim evaluated by our team.
FREE CASE EVALUATION
Regardless of the type of injury you have, we may be able to help you get the compensation you deserve!
GET YOUR JUSTICE
Our experienced attorneys at McDonald & Cody will fight for the justice you deserve. You don't pay unless we win!