Helping Clients After Serious Bus Accident Injuries

Many people in the Tampa area rely on public transportation to get around, including the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) bus system and school buses. Most people consider buses among of the safest forms of transportation. These large vehicles are designed with the safety of passengers in mind and can stand up to the impact of a crash better than many small passenger vehicles. However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that the number of buses involved in injury or fatal crashes significantly increased from 2009 to 2013.

A bus accident cannot only frighten passengers but may also cause them serious injuries. A variety of factors can contribute to bus accidents, and determining liability can require a complicated investigation—so injured bus accident victims should seek help from a law firm that understands how to handle these complex claims.

The Florida Law Group represents clients who were injured in many types of accidents in and around Tampa Bay. If you suffered damages in a bus accident, please do not delay in contacting our office for a free case evaluation.

Causes of Bus-related Injuries

Crashes can injure bus passengers and other motorists in many different ways, including.

Crashes involving buses – When a bus hits a smaller car, both passengers on the bus and occupants of the smaller may vehicle suffer bad injuries. If another driver’s negligence caused the bus to crash, all injured bus passengers can hold that driver liable for their losses. If the bus driver caused the accident, injured victims can hold the driver and the company that employed the driver responsible.

Single-vehicle bus crashes can cause equally serious injuries. When a bus driver loses control, a bus can easily roll over onto its side due to its high center of gravity. Passengers do not often wear seat belts or any type of restraints, so the chaotic circumstances of a rollover bus accident can cause passengers to fall onto one another, into bus windows, and against the ceiling, among other objects.

The many possible causes of single-vehicle bus accidents include:

  • Distracted bus drivers
  • Impaired bus drivers
  • Bus drivers who violate traffic laws
  • Defective bus parts that malfunction
  • Road hazards that trigger buses to crash

An experienced attorney can determine the true cause of a bus accident so that you know whom you can hold liable for your medical bills and other injury-related losses.

Premises-related accidents on a bus – Traffic crashes do not cause all bus-related injuries. In some situations, accidents can take place because of dangerous conditions inside the bus. For example, if the bus company does not properly maintain the steps or aisles of a bus, they can become slippery and someone may slip and fall while boarding or exiting.

While slips and falls may not seem as serious as a bus crash, people can sustain life-threatening injuries in these types of accidents and they may need significant medical treatments. You may hold a bus company liable if its negligent failure to maintain the bus’s interior injured you.

Pedestrian and bus collisions – Buses hit pedestrians more than you may imagine. These accidents can involve people who walk along the street, cross at an intersection, or get off or on the bus. These accidents are especially common with school buses, as drivers may have difficulty seeing small children who may try to cross in front of a bus. A driver who does not pay adequate attention can hit a child with a bus, often causing severe injuries. These accidents can also take place if a bus driver fails to yield properly at a crosswalk or before making a turn at an intersection.

Bus Accident Injuries

Bus passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists can all sustain the following devastating injuries in bus accidents:

  • Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
  • Skull fractures
  • Fractured limbs or extremities
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Back injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries

These injuries all require medical treatments, and some victims may need ongoing treatments and assistance for the rest of their lives. For example, spinal cord injuries can leave victims permanently paralyzed. They may require substantial amounts of medical equipment, home health assistance, and physical therapy for years to come. Their permanent disabilities may prevent them from returning to their previous jobs and may cost them significant amounts of earnings during the course of their lifetimes.

A paralyzing spinal cord injury is only one of many injuries that can damage someone’s life. Even a fractured bone can disrupt your life and result in missed work, medical bills, and financial struggles. You need an experienced bus accident attorney who can calculate all of your past and future bus accident-related losses and seek all of the compensation that you deserve.

Recovering compensation for your losses after a bus accident can prove complicated. First, your attorney must identify all of the negligent parties whom you should hold responsible. Next, your attorney must file the proper insurance claims on your behalf and negotiate a fair settlement. If an insurance company refuses to offer a sufficient amount to cover your losses, your lawyer should prepare to file a personal injury lawsuit against any negligent parties. Such lawsuits can involve bus companies, government entities, or individual drivers, and you need a seasoned litigator who can successfully represent your rights in such cases.

Contact a Tampa Bus Accident Law Firm for Assistance Today

The Florida Law Group has extensive experience handling all types of personal injury cases. We can represent you in claims against individuals or corporations and will explore every possible opportunity for financial recovery for our clients. If a bus accident injured you, please contact us online or call our Tampa office at 813-463-8880 for a free consultation.