Buses represent just one component in New York’s massive public transit offerings. With MTA buses sharing the busy New York streets with school buses, charter buses, delivery trucks, taxi cabs, bicyclists, and pedestrians, the fact that accidents occur with any of these road occupants comes as no surprise.
However, accidents with buses can cause particularly serious injuries. If you suffered an injury in such a collision, a New York bus accident lawyer can investigate your accident, calculate your damages, and represent you in your fight to recover compensation for the many losses you may have endured.
Morelli Law Firm works on contingency, meaning we charge you no attorney fees unless and until we win your case. Call us today at (212) 751-9800 for a free case review.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
Many people hop on buses with a certain air of confidence and assumed safety. The size of the bus and the fact it generally travels at slower speeds than other traffic lend to this misconception. As it happens, buses present relatively the same level of risk of accidents as passenger vehicles, according to a study conducted by the Journal of Safety Research.
A variety of behaviors and conditions that commonly cause bus accidents, including:
- Excessive speed
- Illegal maneuvers
- Poor response to weather conditions
- Driving while distracted
- Uncertified or inexperienced bus operator
- Obstruction of view
- Road conditions
- Defective/faulty equipment
- Substandard maintenance
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence
- Vision or hearing problems
- Failure to take proper evasive action
- Faulty brakes
- Fatigue
- Fire on the bus
The legal team at Morelli Law Firm can handle any type of bus accident case, no matter who caused it or how they caused it. We will investigate your accident, identify the cause, and work to hold the at-fault party accountable for your damages.
Investigating Your Bus Accident
When another party’s negligence causes a bus accident, and you suffer injuries as a result, that other party should pay for your damages, including medical expenses, the time you miss from work, emotional stress, and other losses.
As your attorneys, our firm will investigate your accident and pinpoint who or what caused it—and who should be held liable. We will investigate by:
- Visiting the accident scene to gather evidence
- Reviewing videos and photos
- Obtaining the accident report from the investigating law enforcement officer
- Interviewing witnesses and capturing their testimonies
- Study bus maintenance records
- Analyze bus operator history
We will leave no stone unturned. Our investigation will point us toward the at-fault party.
Call Morelli Law Firm today. The sooner you hire our New York bus accident lawyer to represent you, the sooner we can begin investigating your incident. Call (212) 751-9800 for a free consultation.
New York Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Parties Who May He Held Liable
From our investigation, a wide range of individuals and entities may surface as the at-fault party that owes you compensation for your injury. Examples include:
- Bus operator/driver
- Bus maintenance service
- Bus service owner
- Manufacturer of bus parts
- Government body or municipality
- Bus management company
- Other motor vehicle drivers
Each type of defendant will require that we approach our case with a specific strategy.
Calculating Your Recoverable Damages
When we build our case against the at-fault party, we need to prove that the defendant failed to take reasonable steps to keep you from harm and that this negligence caused you to sustain an injury. We will use evidence from our investigation to support these claims.
We will also conduct additional research into the damages you suffered by:
- Getting copies of your medical records
- Obtaining wage statements from your employer
- Obtaining written opinions from experts in medicine, vocational therapy, economics, and/or psychology
Our New York bus accident lawyer will compose a demand letter of all the losses we identify and submit it to the defendant’s insurance provider. If they fail to agree to a reasonable settlement, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf and have a jury or judge settle the matter in civil court.
Types of Recoverable Damages
The value of your personal injury case depends on the type and extent of your injuries, whether they affect your ability to work, and if so, for how long. It also depends on how your injuries have affected you emotionally.
These values are different from one case to the next. Some common types of recoverable damages include:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional stress
If a loved one died because of injuries from a bus accident, you can pursue a wrongful death action. Your lawyer can help you with this effort.
Timing Concerns
As with most legal matters, several deadlines come into play, and missing them can significantly impact your case. For starters, New York’s statute of limitations limits the amount of time you have to take legal action after a personal injury, like a bus accident. New York Civil Practice Law & Rules §214 specifies a deadline of three years from the date of your accident.
Furthermore, if your lawyer finds that a government body was at-fault for your accident and injuries, the law requires you to send a notice to file with the government entity, and you have only a limited amount of time to take this action.
In order to build your case and meet all the necessary deadlines, consider hiring a lawyer sooner rather than later.
A New York Bus Accident Lawyer Will Take Action
If another party caused you to suffer injuries in a bus accident, there is no reason you should bear the burden of bringing the at-fault parties to justice.
Our lawyers will take on your case, investigate the accident, calculate your damages, and represent your right to recover compensation with the insurers and any court of law.
Call Morelli Law Firm today at (212) 751-9800 for a free, no-obligation consultation.