Buffalo Bus Accident Lawyer

Many people use buses to get to work, school, and other travel destinations. Bus drivers must undergo special training to operate their vehicles and must abide by federal regulations to maintain their vehicles. Failure to do either might put their passengers and other road users at risk of getting into an accident.

Victims of bus accidents can suffer severe injuries that may affect their finances and quality of life. Filing a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party is one of the first steps when pursuing compensation for damages, and a Buffalo bus accident lawyer from our firm can help you do so.

If you were injured in a bus collision, call Morelli Law Firm today to assess if you can file a claim or lawsuit. We can explore your legal options and explain more about how our Buffalo personal injury lawyers can help. We have recovered more than $1 billion in case results. 

Damages Our Bus Accident Attorneys in Buffalo, NY, Can Help You Recover

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a bus accident, you may be facing costly medical treatment and surgeries. The collision may also affect your ability to work for some time, causing lost income and reduced financial capacity.

A bus accident lawyer in Buffalo, NY, from our firm can help you pursue compensation, such as:

• Emergency medical treatment costs
• Medical equipment costs
• Vehicle repair costs
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
• Lost income
• Diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering

A lawyer at Morelli Law Firm, familiar with bus accident cases in Buffalo, can consult medical experts to determine the costs of your treatment, including the costs for future medical expenses.

Our legal team can analyze your case and help you explore your legal options. Whether we file a personal injury claim or take legal action against a liable party, we can handle all the necessary paperwork and gather evidence to substantiate your accident-related losses. We always fight for maximum compensation. 

Our Buffalo Bus Accident Team Can Negotiate a Fair Settlement

An insurance company may reach out to you to offer a settlement. However, this amount might not be enough to cover your damages. To avoid accepting an unfair settlement offer, our lawyer can assess your damages and estimate their costs.

We may then determine if you will need to incur more expenses, especially if you are treating long-term injuries. Using this information, your attorney can compile a detailed report demonstrating each damage and pursue compensation based on this financial goal.

A car accident can make it challenging for the injured party to attend meetings during the litigation process. For example, you might be unable to participate in legal procedures like negotiating with insurance adjusters.

We Can Help You File Your Bus Accident Lawsuit Properly and on Time

When you hire a Buffalo bus accident attorney from our firm, they can act as your legal representative. Your attorney can communicate with other parties involved and attend meetings on your behalf. They can also update you on the progress of your case. A lawyer on our team may also assist you with your case by:

• Filing a lawsuit against the liable party when necessary
• Ensuring you file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations in New York, as stated in the New York Civil Practice Law & Rules (CVP) §214
• Interviewing witnesses to gather anecdotal evidence
• Accessing medical and police reports
• Advising a client on various legal matters
• Ensuring the protection of a client’s legal rights

The Statute of Limitations in a Wrongful Death Case in New York

If you lost a loved one in a bus accident, please accept our deepest condolences. You may be eligible to file a wrongful death case. You may stand to recover the medical costs due to their injuries, as well as the costs to cover funeral and burial expenses. 

From the date of their death, you only have two years to bring a civil action according to Estates, Powers & Trusts (EPT) §5-4.1. The Buffalo wrongful death lawyers at our firm can ensure the proper paperwork is filed in court on time.

Potentially Liable Parties in a Bus Accident Case

Some bus accidents are a result of bus driver negligence. For example, a commercial bus driver may drive under the influence of drugs, which is against state law. The driver might also fail to obey traffic light signals and hit other road users, including pedestrians.

Our lawyers can hold them liable, but their employer, such as a government entity or a private corporation, may also be vicariously liable. Take a look at how negligence can make a range of parties liable for bus accident injuries. 

Safety Requirements for New York Buses

The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) sets the state’s bus and passenger vehicle regulations. These regulations include not carrying more than the allowable number of passengers and ensuring all vehicle parts are in good working condition.

While these laws help prevent and reduce accidents, some bus companies may fail to observe them. If an accident occurs because of their negligence, you can make a claim for damages from the company’s insurer.

More Than One Party May Be Responsible

As with other motor vehicle accidents, multiple parties may contribute to a bus accident, and they may be held liable for the injuries they cause. For example, a bus company or municipality that oversees school buses might have failed to do a routine check-up on the maintenance of its bus fleet.

If one of its buses got into a school bus accident due to a mechanical failure, the bus company or municipality may be held partially at fault for the accident. If the school bus driver also proves negligent, you can hold them responsible, as well. 

Evidence We Can Use to Build Your Case

A Buffalo bus accident lawyer at our firm can examine your case to establish the cause of the accident. After that, we may collect evidence to help prove liability and then file a lawsuit against the party at fault. Evidence that may be used to support your case might include:

• Your medical records
• Receipts showing the cost of medical treatment
• Photographs of damages to both vehicles after the crash
• The police report on the incident
• Witness testimony
• Video footage from traffic and surveillance cameras

Our lawyers can use this evidence to counter an insurance company’s determination of fault or damages. We can help protect you from bad-faith tactics that could devalue your claim.

Our Case Results Speak to the Dedication of Our Buffalo Attorneys

Our clients choose to work with us because they know we are passionate about pursuing justice for them. Our case results include more than $1 billion in settlements and court awards we have obtained for our clients. Here are just a few examples:

• $12 million secured – For the estate of an 85-year-old man who was struck by an MTA bus and later died from his injuries
•  $11.2 million secured – For a 76-year-old woman left severely brain-damaged after a truck accident
• $5.5 million secured – For a pedestrian who was struck while crossing the street

Our attorney who handles bus accident cases in Buffalo will negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement on your behalf. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we will take the case to the court by filing a lawsuit. We will not hesitate to argue for compensation in a trial before a judge or jury. 

Contact the Attorneys at Morelli Law Firm for a Free Bus Accident Case Consultation

Bus accidents may result in significant physical injuries, emotional pain, and material damage. At Morelli Law Firm, we represent people injured in such collisions and help them seek justice. Our Buffalo bus accident attorneys can analyze how the event occurred to determine the at-fault party and file a claim with their insurance company. We can also seek a court-awarded offer through a lawsuit. 

If you or a loved one suffered various injuries due to a bus accident, you might be able to recover compensation for them. Contact Morelli Law Firm today to begin working with our personal injury attorneys.