Brooklyn Bus Accident Lawyer

The bus accident lawyers in Brooklyn understand that the thought of taking legal action after a serious accident can prove intimidating. That, however, is why we offer our services to survivors like you. We understand that bus accidents can leave you with substantial bills on top of your injuries, and we want to help you get the support you deserve.

You can connect with a Brooklyn personal injury lawyer with Morelli Law Firm after an accident to discuss what steps you need to take to file a personal injury claim. Our team can step in and identify the party liable for your accident before helping you fight for support in or out of court.

Who’s Responsible for a Brooklyn Bus Accident?

While you have the right to take legal action against the party responsible for your Brooklyn bus accident, you first need to determine who that party is. While you may instinctively want to blame a bus driver, other forces can play a significant role in your accident. Some of these forces may not even be on the scene at the time your accident takes place.

You can work with our personal injury attorneys in Brooklyn to determine which of the following parties, or any others, you can demand financial support from after your accident: 

The Bus Driver

Bus drivers assume responsibility for accidents they may cause on the road when they operate as independent contractors. Independent contractor contracts allow bus drivers to establish a client-to-business owner relationship between themselves and the institutions that they serve.

Independent contractors operating buses throughout Brooklyn have to have mandatory Insurance to operate these larger-than-average vehicles on Brooklyn’s crowded streets. Fortunately for you, this means that you may have the right to file an insurance claim with a bus driver’s provider following an accident.

You may also take up a personal injury claim against the individual bus driver who caused your accident so long as you can bring forward the evidence needed to prove that they violated the duty of care they owed you. 

The Busing Company

If the bus that caused your recent accident operates under the umbrella of a larger corporation, and its driver works as an employee, you’re in luck. You may have the right to sue a busing company for your recent losses.

Don’t let the prospect of taking legal action against a corporation intimidate you. Most busing companies prefer to settle accident-related claims out of court and will meet with you to arrange a fair settlement. Our team still recommends that you have a Brooklyn bus accident attorney present throughout these negotiations so that the insurance company doesn’t try to minimize your losses.

Be warned, though, that a busing company may attempt to misrepresent the employment status of a bus driver in an effort to get out of paying you the damages you deserve for your losses. If you suspect that you were hit by an employee and not an independent contractor, Morelli Law Firm can take a closer look at the contracts in play between the driver and the company. 

The City

Some of the buses operating in Brooklyn operate as an extension of the city government and not independent companies. If you get hit by one of these bosses, you may have the right to sue the city of Brooklyn for your losses. That said, bus drivers operating city buses may benefit from qualified immunity, which protects city employees.

Qualified immunity prevents city employees, including some politicians and police officers, from coming under fire in civil cases. This doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to hold someone benefiting from qualified immunity accountable for an accident. However, you may have to file a personal injury claim on a much tighter timeline to go to court.

If you suspect a city employee hit you, reach out to a bus accident attorney in Brooklyn as soon as you can. The faster we get on your case, the better chance you have of securing the financial support you need to recover. 

Should You File a Claim for Damages After a Bus Accident?

Filing a personal injury claim against the party responsible for your bus accident allows you to recover financial support based on the losses that someone else’s negligence caused. In other words, you can hold another person or institution responsible for your bills so long as you can prove that the named party owed you a duty of care at the time of your accident.

You do not have to go to trial to get financial support based on your bus accident losses. If you file a personal injury claim and request fair damages, you may have the opportunity to reach a settlement agreement out of court. Our team recommends that you meet with a bus accident attorney to discuss the nature of your recent accident and your possible paths forward. 

When Do You Need to File a Bus Accident Claim?

If you want to take legal action against any of the parties mentioned above who may bear the responsibility for your bus accident, make sure you file a personal injury claim within the deadline established by New York Civil Practice Law & Rules section 214. 

The statute, known as New York’s personal injury statute of limitations, gives you no more than three years to act on your losses. 

Our Bus Accident Lawyers in Brooklyn Can Go to Work for You

Brooklyn will always play host to street-packing traffic. If you’re trying to get from Point A to Point B, you have to navigate the city’s complex bus system. You do not have to resign yourself to mistreatment from a bus driver, though, particularly not after a severe accident.

If you find yourself dealing with the consequences of someone else’s negligence after a bus accident, let the attorneys with Morelli Law Firm know. We can connect you with a Brooklyn bus accident lawyer and help you take legal action against the party liable for your losses. Our efforts can help you secure the compensation you need to get back on your feet again.

You can contact us today to book a FREE case assessment with our team.