Bus accidents come in many forms, which can result in painful injuries, lost wages, and disruptions to your daily life. While the severity of these injuries and damages can range from mild to extreme, the cost of treating your injuries shouldn’t be your burden to bear.
When someone else’s careless behavior results in injuries, a personal injury lawyer can help to get you the money you need to cover your medical expenses and other losses. The attorney you choose matters and will impact your case’s outcome.
The personal injury lawyers of Morelli Law have extensive experience with the processes involved in collecting fair compensation when multiple parties and agencies are involved. Our attorneys can build your case, handle the insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary to pursue the results you need.
How Are Bus Accident Lawyers in Long Beach Paid for Their Services?
Personal injury lawyers from our firm offer legal representation and their services on contingency. There’s no cost to you if we do not successfully settle your case or win in court. The fees are taken from the amount of the award as a percentage.
The industry-standard percentage for bus accident lawyers generally ranges between 33-45%. The fees will be clearly laid out in writing and in understandable language. Most reputable attorneys have no problem answering your questions about fees and addressing your concerns.
We believe that it is better for all parties involved if things are clear up front so the focus can be on the legal process. Our firm will perform a case evaluation free of charge and there is no risk or obligation.
Can I Collect for Pain and Suffering After a Bus Crash?
Pain and suffering are generally considered in the damages in tort cases, however, if your collision was with a bus owned by the transit authority, a school, or other public entity, you may be barred from collecting damages for pain and suffering.
Public entities are entitled to certain protections from liability and are treated differently than private entities. A Long Beach bus accident attorney can listen to the details of your case and explain your options for collecting damages depending on the specific circumstances of your situation.
For crashes, accidents, fires, or other incidents that involve private and commercially operated buses, pain and suffering may be considered.
Long Beach Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Types of Damages Considered in a Bus Accident Case in New York
All the damages considered in a bus accident case can be classified as economic or non-economic damages. While the individual circumstances surrounding your injuries and the liable parties in your case, damages that are ordinarily accounted for may include:
Economic Damages
These types of damages have quantifiable value. There needs to be a price or a monetary value, such as a medical expense. These damages will include things such as
- Lost Wages
- Medical Costs
- Costs of future treatment
- Property damage
The purpose of calculating all of the economic damages in a case is to determine the amount that the victim suffered or will be required to pay in the future.
The compensatory damages are supposed to equal this amount in order to ensure that the crash does not cause the victim to suffer a financial setback. This is also to pay for any future treatment that may be necessary due to disability or expected complications.
Non-Economic Damages
These losses are not quantifiable. There is no amount of money to replace a lost loved one or to fix a diminished quality of life. If someone suffers from a disability, there is no amount of money that will restore their full physical abilities.
Since financial compensation is the only offering our legal system has available, this is meant to compensate the victim for their suffering by making them more comfortable financially. This money is usually the bulk of a compensation package and can be substantial.
Punitive Damages
In certain extreme cases, punitive damages can be awarded. This is usually reserved for liable parties whose negligent actions were performed willfully, wantonly, and without regard to human life or safety.
These damages are meant to punish the reckless parties and can send a warning to others that there will be severe consequences if the acts are carried out again. Punitive damages are common in cases against big companies that cause harm to large numbers of people.
An example of gross negligence that could result in punitive damages could be the failure to fix a problem that was known to be dangerous.
For example, a bus company owner is told the bus will catch fire if wiring isn’t replaced immediately. The owner decides to operate the bus anyway, resulting in injuries to riders. The fire that caused the injuries was directly due to his negligence in fixing the issue.
Benefits of Working With a Lawyer for Your Bus Accident Injury Case in Long Beach
The benefits of having an attorney to represent you generally outweigh the risks. There are several things to consider when thinking about pursuing damages by dealing with insurance companies on your own.
The benefits a Long Beach bus accident lawyer from our firm can offer you include:
- Handle all communications with lawyers and insurance company reps
- Complete calculation of your actual and potential future damages
- Collect and evaluate all evidence to find all sources of liability
- Consult with medical, financial, and crash scene experts to build and support your claim
- Representation and legal advice from a firm that has recovered over $1 billion in damages
A Long Beach bus crash injury lawyer will work hard to maximize your recovery and prepare your case for court in the event negotiations do not yield a satisfactory result. We will work tirelessly to reach the best possible outcome for your case.
Contact Us Today for a Free Case Evaluation
We are not intimidated by big insurance companies or giant business entities. We prepare every case as though it will go to court, so we will be ready to act if negotiations do not end favorably. Many firms may avoid litigation in favor of taking a smaller settlement. We will not back down unless it is in the best interest of our clients.
Learn more about how Morelli Law Firm’s personal injury attorneys have helped others in situations like yours and how we can assist you. Schedule a free consultation and begin the first steps to financial recovery today.
Having representation from an experienced bus accident lawyer in Long Beach after a bus crash can do more than help you maximize the value of recovery or settlement; it can save you time and stress. In addition, working with an attorney reduces the risk of costly mistakes that can be made that might result in the loss of your rights to pursue compensation.