Riding a bus to work or school may seem like a simple mode of transportation that is relatively safe, bus crashes can be catastrophic. You deserve to be safe when riding a bus as a passenger, but when a collision happens, you need a Decatur, Georgia, bus accident lawyer to help you get the compensation you are entitled to for your injuries.
Buses, unlike other types of transportation, do not come equipped with the traditional safety features. There are no safety belts or airbags to provide protection if a crash happens. This can cause serious injuries to a passenger. From whiplash to more severe bodily injuries, riding as a passenger on a city bus or school bus can have devastating effects on your safety.
Buses also present an interesting set of events when it comes to the reason for the accident. Many times, bus accidents are caused by another driver who has made an error in their driving behavior in some fashion or another. In other instances, there is negligence by the bus driver. Regardless of who is at fault in your bus accident, you have rights under the law, and The Weinstein Firm Decatur personal injury law firm can help you with your case. Call 770-HELP-NOW to get the compensation you deserve!
Hiring a Decatur Bus Accident Lawyer
After a serious crash, many victims are left unsure of where to turn or how to handle the financial and legal challenges that follow. Working with an experienced Decatur bus accident lawyer gives you the guidance and protection you need at every step of the claims process. A trusted bus accident attorney can level the playing field against insurance companies and bus operators, making sure your rights are defended.
How a Bus Accident Attorney Helps Your Case
Hiring a skilled Decatur bus accident lawyer can make a major difference in the outcome of your case. Your attorney will gather evidence, negotiate with insurers, and fight to recover the maximum compensation possible. A bus accident attorney can help with:
- Investigating the cause of the crash and identifying all responsible parties
- Collecting key evidence such as accident reports, driver records, and witness statements
- Working with experts to prove negligence and the extent of your injuries
- Negotiating fair settlements with insurance companies
- Taking your case to trial if a reasonable settlement cannot be reached
Contingency Fee: You Only Pay If We Win
Many people worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer after an accident, but most personal injury firms, including The Weinstein Firm, work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any upfront fees, and your Decatur bus accident lawyer is only paid if they successfully recover compensation for you. This arrangement makes it possible for anyone—regardless of financial situation—to have strong legal representation after a bus accident.
Deadlines For Filing A Decatur, GA, Bus Crash Lawsuit
There are a variety of deadlines that dictate when you need to file your bus accident claims. If your injury claims are against another vehicle driver that caused the bus crash, you need to adhere to the state statute of limitations. These laws provide you up to two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for your bus accident injuries.
When your injuries are the result of a government bus driver, you have a more complex process to follow. This is where a bus accident lawyer in Decatur, Georgia, will help you with following the proper procedures to ensure you receive a settlement for your injury claims.
Under the law, when involved in a bus accident when a government entity is negligent, you need to file a notice with the governing body of the city about your injuries within six months from the date of the accident. This can be complex, and your personal injury lawyer can help you with filing the appropriate information and documentation to report your injury claims from the bus accident.
You will want to speak to your bus accident lawyers in Decatur, Georgia, about your case as soon as possible after the crash. A bus accident attorney will ensure that you file your injury claims with the appropriate party and request compensation for your injuries as soon as possible.
Delaying your injury claim could forfeit your right to a settlement award and prevent you from bringing a suit against the negligent party in a bus crash. Let your bus wreck lawyer help you determine who is at fault for your injuries and help you file a lawsuit with the appropriate parties as necessary.
Your bus accident lawyer can help you determine if a settlement award is reachable through negotiation or if it is necessary to take your case to court. In either instance, your bus crash lawyers will represent you every step of the way and work to fight for fair compensation for your injuries after a bus accident.
Let Your Decatur, GA, Bus Accident Lawyer Prove Fault In Your Bus Crash Case
Proving fault in a bus accident may take extensive investigative work. There may be underlying circumstances or events that caused the crash. Your bus accident lawyer will work to develop a case against the driver of another vehicle or the driver of the bus to show negligence in the crash.
Bus Driver Negligence
A skilled bus wreck lawyer will look at evidence like traffic camera footage, police reports, and eyewitness testimony to prove that the bus driver’s negligence caused the accident. By holding the bus driver accountable, a bus accident lawyer in Decatur, Georgia, helps victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Bus Company Liability
Bus companies have a duty to hire qualified drivers, train them properly, and maintain their vehicles in safe working condition. A bus company that cuts corners puts passengers and others on the road at risk. Experienced bus crash lawyers can investigate company records and maintenance logs to show how the bus company contributed to the wreck.
Government Agency
If the bus is owned or operated by a city or county agency, that government entity may also be responsible. Poorly maintained roads, lack of proper signage, or negligent hiring practices can all play a role in a bus accident. Bringing a claim against a government agency involves special legal rules and strict deadlines, so it’s important to work with a bus accident lawyer in Decatur, Georgia, who understands these challenges. A lawyer will know how to gather the right evidence and file the claim correctly to protect your rights.
Bus Accident Claims We Handle at The Weinstein Firm
At The Weinstein Firm, we handle a wide range of bus accident cases, from private shuttle crashes to public transportation and school bus accidents, giving victims and families the skilled legal support they need in the toughest times.
Shuttle and Charter Bus Accidents
Shuttle and charter buses are frequently used for airport travel, private events, and long-distance trips, but when these vehicles are involved in a crash, the results can be devastating. A Decatur bus accident lawyer at The Weinstein Firm can investigate whether the company cut corners on driver training or vehicle maintenance. By holding negligent operators accountable, we help victims pursue the compensation they need for medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering.
MARTA Bus Crashes
Public transportation is a daily necessity for many in Decatur, but MARTA buses are not immune to serious collisions. When a MARTA bus accident occurs, it can raise complicated questions about government liability and insurance coverage. The Weinstein Firm’s experienced lawyers know how to navigate these claims and work aggressively to ensure victims are not left dealing with mounting expenses on their own.
School Bus Accidents
Parents trust that school buses will safely transport their children, but accidents still happen due to driver negligence, poor supervision, or mechanical issues. These cases require sensitive handling as well as strong legal advocacy to protect children and families. A Decatur bus accident lawyer at The Weinstein Firm can investigate the circumstances, determine who is responsible, and fight for justice and fair compensation.
Compensation In A Decatur, GA, Bus Accident Case
When injured in a bus accident, you deserve compensation for your injuries. There is no need to suffer alone. You deserve to have your medical bills paid and recover your lost wages from work. There are a variety of damages that you are entitled to as compensation for your injuries in a bus accident.
Medical expenses
Your medical treatment is recoupable as part of your bus crash settlement award. This includes all medical treatment you had to care for your injuries now as well as any future medical care you would need to in the future. Your bus accident lawyer will fight to get your medical bills paid as part of your settlement award for a bus crash where injuries occurred.
Lost wages
The recovery time for your injuries may have caused you to miss work and lose out on wages during this time. Your bus wreck lawyer will recover the lost wages you incurred during your recovery and help get your compensation for any future lost wages you will endure as a result of your injuries in a bus crash.
Pain and suffering
A bus crash can have devastating and emotional effects on any passenger. You may be suffering emotionally and have mental anguish as a result of your injuries. Your bus accident lawyers can work to get you compensation for pain and suffering after a bus crash has caused you injury.
Punitive damages
When the events of a bus accident are particularly egregious, the judge may order punitive damages for the victim. This provides financial compensation for those injured by the reckless behavior of the driver that caused that bus accident. Punitive damages are designed to financially punish a defendant and act as a deterrent to others that may display the same behavior. Your bus accident lawyer can help you understand if your bus crash case qualifies for punitive damages.
There is no monetary limit on the settlement awards for most damages sought in a bus accident case. However, punitive damages have a limit of $250,000. Ask your bus accident attorney what you can expect for a total settlement award. A bus wreck lawyer can calculate your compensation and work to get you a settlement for your bus crash injuries as quickly as possible.
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Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Decatur, Georgia
While another vehicle driver can easily cause a bus crash that injures you or a loved one, in many cases, it is the fault of the driver of the bus. There are a variety of reasons that a bus driver may be negligent in a bus crash including:
Fatigue
If a bus driver is tired they may make an error in judgment when driving which can put you at risk as a passenger. This is negligent driving behavior and the cause of many bus accidents. If you believe fatigue was at work in your bus crash, talk to your Decatur, GA, bus accident lawyer about your case.
Improper training
There are instances when an individual is given a job as a bus driver and is not given the proper training to drive a vehicle of this magnitude and size. They can easily put you and your family in danger and cause an accident. Proper training as a bus driver is necessary to ensure the safety of all passengers at all times when driving. Your bus wreck lawyer can determine if improper training was the cause of your bus crash.
Poor background checks
Sometimes bus drivers are given positions without running background checks on their driving records. This can be a dangerous turn of events for passengers that are leaving their lives in the hands of a reckless As part of an investigation in your bus crash, your bus accident lawyers will look into the background check of the bus driver to determine if there are discrepancies that should have been caught by the bus operating company.
Impaired driving
If a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it can create a hazardous or even deadly situation for all passengers aboard the bus. Not only is it illegal to drive a bus, or any vehicle, when impaired by alcohol or drugs, but it can easily cause an accident with severe injuries. Your bus accident attorney will prove impaired driving in your bus crash case if the circumstances warrant these claims.
A bus operator can also be negligent for the condition and operation of the bus itself. This could include an overloaded bus beyond its chassis capacity, or an improperly loaded bus. Both instances can cause a bus driver to lose control of the vehicle, or it could cause tipping when driving, overturning the bus and causing grave injury.
Buses maintenance is also an important factor in a bus crash. Buses need to follow proper maintenance schedules, and their performance needs monitoring to ensure safe operation at all times. A bus that is in poor working condition can easily cause an accident that injures you or a loved one without warning. Your bus accident lawyer will investigate the maintenance schedule and procedures of the bus to determine if negligence was at play.
Contact A Decatur Bus Accident Lawyer Today!
When you or a loved one is injured in a bus crash, you need the help of a Decatur, Georgia, bus accident lawyer who can help you with your case. The bus collision lawyers at The Weinstein Firm will fight for your rights in a bus crash and get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. A bus accident attorney at The Weinstein Firm is ready to answer your legal questions and help you with your bus crash case. Contact one of our Decatur accident lawyers today to set up a consultation today at (770) HELP-NOW!
